TOO MUCH PROTECTION

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

There comes a time where being overprotective is counterproductive. As a pilot, I have aviation weather at my disposal, so when I heard that all Island roads were being closed at 2 p.m. on Friday due to the public forecasted hurricane conditions, I immediately contacted the communications center, three times, to tell them that aviation weather forecasted no high winds until maybe after 8 p.m. I did notice the curfew finally got postponed to 8 p.m.

Then I took my daughter, who is in photography school, on a venture to hopefully watch the waves, only to discover that all the public beaches were shut down and the police would not even allow the public to watch the waves. Again, this is overprotective and denies Islanders the right to experience a potential historical event, at no measurable risk.

Luckily, I ran into one of the lighthouse keepers in Aquinnah, and we came up with a plan to watch the huge waves from the lighthouse and enjoy the show before darkness set in. I wanted my daughter to experience some of the magic this Island has to offer, and it was exactly that.

Next time, let’s get more realistic. Allowing the public to view a storm from a safe distance should be allowed. If we strip our Islanders of all cultural and historical experiences under the guises of public safety, a truly magical moment will be lost forever. And isn’t this the reason many of us continue to live here?

Paul Adler

West Tisbury

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DOUBLE LOSS

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

In the first weeks of July, before the big fire, a 16-foot fiberglass skiff was taken from the Mayhew dock in Menemsha. This small boat was left to me by the late Tom Osmers, a dear friend of mine. Tom taught me how to fish in this boat and then gave it to me as my own fishing vessel for the scallop season. He built a little culling board on the port side and made for me two scallop dredges and I fished every day I could that winter. When summer came we fished together again, just the two of us in the little skiff out on the wide open water. On those long days Tom taught me many things and shared with me the stories of his life.

It is most difficult to lose a good friend, and it is strange to return to the Island with him no longer here. And so what a loss I felt even more when I found my boat was taken. It had been comforting to think of going out in our boat to all the places we had once fished together. And though I know it is just a boat to anyone, it meant a lot to me. It is hard letting go of what’s lost, but still I cannot help but hope for my boat’s return. If anyone knows of its whereabouts, please contact me at 508-627-2480.

Indaia Whitcombe

Aquinnah

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ECUMENICAL WORSHIP

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

I appreciate those who put together the ecumenical worship service at the Tabernacle last Sunday. I think having a joint service with several Vineyard congregations is a good thing. The music was well done. The barbecue was a very nice touch, keeping people around after the service so they can connect with one another. My input to the planning committee is this: If you have another service next year, start the service at noon so you can have more Island churches represented. When you start the service at 11 a.m. you exclude some churches because your service and their services overlap. Did you personally invite every congregation to participate? How about the Brazilian congregations — did you invite them? Those participating looked rather white to me. Also, a worship service is about worshiping the living God. There needs to be more heartfelt worship of the God of the universe rather than having liturgy that honors the earth. The last hymn had nothing to do with the God who fashioned this earth in which we live. People need to leave the Tabernacle with a deeper sense of the Lord in their hearts. Our hope is in the Lord Jesus Christ and his salvation. Thanks planning committee, for your effort.

Cyrus Vance

West Tisbury

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MERGER QUESTIONS

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

The following letter was sent to the Tisbury selectmen.

Congratulations on the appointment of the chief of police in Tisbury, Dan Hanavan. As for the consolidation of the two police departments, there are a few questions that need to be answered.

Which of the police comissioners in Oak Bluffs and Tisbury will be in charge of procedure? Which town will be responsible for the police unions, police contracts or payroll differences? Which town will be in charge of the maintenance of stations, police vehicles and general upkeep? How are police records for each of the towns kept, separate or shared? Will ambulance services be shared or kept separate?

As a former selectman, I would like to see someone look at the old records and answer these questions.

Cora Medeiros

Vineyard Haven

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SCAMMERS

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

I was scammed by a loan company in Aquinnah. Savona Financial claims to be located at 30 Oxcart Road, Aquinnah, MA 02535. Their phone number is 1-877-695-9608, extension 226. These people need to be exposed. I was promised a $10,000 loan after I was to wire $900 for six months of payments. After I wired the money they said I needed an additional $900. I told them I was not interested in sending them another $900. I told them I wanted my money back. They said they would send a letter to me stating they would send the money back. That never happened. I did a Google Earth search on the address and it lead me up a dirt road to a tree on the beach with the ocean in the background. I’ve been had. I spoke with a John Farmer from this company who was so nice and told me I was going to receive a welcome call and everything would be done in four hours. My welcome call was I needed to pay an additional $900. These people are true scammers and they are working out of your town. They need to be investigated and exposed for their unethical practices so they won’t hurt others. I would like to know if something can be done about these people.

Althea Worthy

Pittsburgh, Pa.

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FAINTING PRAISE

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

On Sunday morning my husband Joel mowed the lawn, played two hours of singles from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (with a young guy), came back home and mowed some more, went down to his favorite restaurant, the Menemsha Cafe, fixed the front door, put on two new hinges, removed the shards from a broken window, puttied in a new piece of glass, came home, cut me a pile of kindling, took a quick shower and off we went to the Yard. Three quarters of the way through he fainted. This is our thank-you to the paramedics who were quick and smart and kind and all the folks who jumped to our aid; apologies to Suzanne Vega and Kay Matschullat for the interruption. We were loving the show. We promise to hydrate and keep electrolit. Again thank you everyone who helped and know that he is back to health and will only play doubles with the elderly in the future.

Nancy and Joel Aronie

Chilmark

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SWEET SHOP

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

Johnny Cupcakes and the crew want to extend our thanks to all Islanders, off-Island visitors, and our loyal and committed fans for visiting the Dock Street Coffee Shop for the Johnny Cupcakes Pop Up Shop which was held August 13 to 22. We had so much fun meeting new people and explaining our brand to newcomers. People came from everywhere to visit the Island and enjoy all the amenities Martha’s Vineyard has to offer. Thanks to Halley, whose cupcakes were delicious and so creative each night. Thank you Mary for your generous hospitality in allowing us to set up shop in your delightful little spot. A great big thank you to my Vineyard family for hosting our staff and feeding us great meals. Their introduction to the Island could not have been more homey and comfortable.

John Earle

Hull

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SUMMER READING SUCCESS

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

We want to thank the many families, child care providers and summer visitors who came to Vineyard Haven Public Library and participated in our Summer Reading Program, Go Green at Your Library. In addition to enthusiastic participation in our story times and recycled crafts programs, youngsters enjoyed chess club, wii games, movies and book clubs. Thanks to the Friends of the VHPL and the Anderson Foundation, we welcomed our special guests who dropped by to entertain, educate and enlighten. We want to especially thank musicians Peter and Ellen Allard, Jeremy Berlin and Julie Austin; storyteller Diane Edgecomb; naturalist Gus Ben David; authors Becky Loescher and Matt DeBettencourt; science teachers Kathy Forrester and Bruce Riseborough; and story character Peter Rabbit. They all made this summer special.

More than 300 youngsters signed up and kept logs of books they read. This included children who are preverbal through high school. They logged in more than 6,400 books. The enthusiastic youngsters were highly motivated by the love of reading and the exciting incentives offered by the library and by Vineyard Haven businesses, who donated a total of $1,800 worth of gift certificates. Thank you all for encouraging reading. In keeping with our green theme this summer, we offered the opportunity to our youngsters to pass on an incentive and become an animal advocate for Felix Neck. The Friends of Vineyard Haven Public Library made a donation in those children’s names to preserve animals and their habitats on the Island. We had 45 children who participated.

Lastly, thanks to our staff and volunteers who help provide a welcoming place for youngsters at the Vineyard Haven Public Library.

Kathy Stinson

Vineyard Haven

SUCH COLLABORATION

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

Collaboration is everything! Many people worked together in various ways to enable Featherstone Center for the Arts to have a wonderful party on Sunday while celebrating The Art of The Ceramic Bowl, including 18 creative Island potters, several Island businesses, staff, friends and board members of Featherstone. They all deserve a hearty round of applause. Thanks again to all the wonderful collaborators — we raised enough money to purchase a digital kiln for the potters.

Patsy McCornack

Vineyard Haven

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WAR NOT OVER

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

U.S. combat missions in Iraq are over, but we are keeping fifty thousand soldiers in the country. What kind of a joke is this? 50,000 of the best soldiers in the world is still a huge army. Who are they kidding? This number doesn’t even include American mercenaries. Is it a coincidence that Obama would imply the war is over just two months before an election? This is a desperate attempt to keep as many incumbents in office as possible. The war machine needs these people who claim to be against the war yet continue to destroy our economy and waste tax dollars by funding it. This kind of rhetoric defies reality and is typical of a society where the people represent the views of government rather than the government representing the views of its people. The war only ends when all the troops come home and we need a government who tells it like it is.

Joe van Nes

West Tisbury

The writer is an independent running for U.S. Congress, tenth district.

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CELEBRATING BEA BROWN

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

The account of the life of my dear friend Bea Brown that appeared in the Gazette on August 31 omitted one accomplishment of which she was justly proud.

In the late 1930s she was unable to afford college and instead opted for secretarial school. But later, as a wife and mother of three sons in New Jersey, she studied at nearby Fairleigh Dickinson University. Her commitment to education, for herself and for others, should be celebrated along with her dedication to volunteer work on the Vineyard and elsewhere.

Mary Beth Norton

Ithaca, N.Y.

and 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.