QUESTIONABLE ARTICLE

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

Oak Bluffs voters will be challenged on whether or not to vote favorably for allocating $200,000 in community preservation funds on article six at the special town meeting Tuesday, Nov. 16 at the Oak Bluffs School. The spending article, which comes recommended from the Community Preservation Committee without town counsel review, is a request for additional funds tying in with the $300,000 Seaview Heritage historic preservation project approved at the annual town meeting in April 2009. The dilemma voters face is whether or not the allocation of additional monies for site improvements around the existing historical structure, the 1931 clay brick bathroom, is an appropriate use of funds for historic preservation under the preservation act adopted by the town in 2005.

The original Seaview Heritage project was a clear-cut historic preservation application that asked for funds to renovate and make universally accessible the restroom facility on the North Bluff and to restore the Civil War memorial adjacent to it. A total of $290,000 was approved to cover soft costs and do construction for the bathroom. The new application, presented by the Oak Bluffs park and recreation association and the Oak Bluffs park and recreation department, states that additional funding is now needed because delays in other adjacent town works projects and engineering assessments tying in the clay brick bathroom with the new SSA terminal building, Lake avenue sidewalks and the drainage and rain garden in Waban-Alley Park have driven the cost of the first Seaview Heritage project up by 60 per cent.

A review of the current application before voters seems to indicate otherwise.

The September 2010 estimate submitted by the Mashek-Maclean architectural firm shows a revised cost estimate of $406,090. Unlike the first estimate the original Seaview Heritage project’s costs were based upon in 2008, this estimate lists exterior improvements to the work site to include a sitting wall, granite curbs, bike racks, an additional wastewater manhole, landscape architecture and welcome area information kiosk. These additional improvements are the driving force in the request for additional monies to complete the preservation of the clay brick bathroom. The new estimate shows only a $24,300 increase in the actual restoration and rehabilitation of the brick structure. The additional improvements are in reality part of a massive public works project utilizing local, state and federal funds to rehabilitate the town and park-owned properties that run along the north shore.

The question posed is if the additional components that are part of the site area for the brick bathroom can be funded in the category for community historic preservation. The construction of a welcome area sitting wall, at a cost of $31,800, is questioned as to its historical relevance to the site of the 1931 structure. The same questions apply for the installation of an information kiosk, estimated at a cost of $12,000 for its design and construction. All told, over $155,000 is being requested for improvements that don’t tie in with historic preservation. To avoid a potential lawsuit for the inappropriate use of CPA funds, town voters should vote no on warrant article number six at the special town meeting next week.

Adam Wilson

Oak Bluffs

VITAL SHELTER ART

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

On behalf of the board of directors of the Animal Shelter of Martha’s Vineyard I want to thank Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School art teacher Paul Brissette and his students for creating the stickers to go on our donation jars. The students who contributed are Molly Ciciora, Kelsey Dandeneau, Katherine Donegan, Aofe Estes, Skylah Forend, Elia Mahoney, Sean McAndrews, Taylor Poggi, Katy Smith, Madeline Webster and John Woodruff.

This is one more example of how the community of the Vineyard has come together to save the animal shelter that was left behind by the MSPCA. We also wish to express our gratitude to the merchants and veterinarians who display our jars. When you’re out and about and see our donation jars, please remember we are a no-kill shelter and exist solely on donations. The animals truly do, and will, appreciate your support.

Duncan Ross

Oak Bluffs

TIRED AND ANGRY

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

Herb Foster’s Oct. 1 op-ed piece (“Selling Tickets of Intimidation”) was disturbing and offensive on so many levels, I am compelled to respond, now that the election results are in.

Mr. Foster labels right-wing radio propagandists, the Tea Party and Republicans as bigots, comparing them to anti-Semitic bigots of the 1930s. He urges Democrats to go on the offensive and “start selling Woof Tickets” to their opponents. This is needed to overcome “shrill talk and disruptive yelling” from bigots on the right who are “spewing forth their hatred, physical threats and lies.”

Wow.

Mr. Foster concludes that “right-wing Republicans” have two problems: “an inability to accept that the President of the U.S. is black, and they no longer rule the roost.”

Again. Wow.

I don’t know where Mr. Foster has been the past few years but he has not been paying attention. He obviously has not been to a Tea Party rally nor talked to people who reject President Obama’s radical agenda. So I have a list for him — and your readers — to help explain why his popularity has sunk to 37 per cent (71 per cent of Americans feel we are on the wrong track).

We don’t like what the president is doing to our country. We want it back.

We are cynical because of Aunt Zeituni, Rev. Wright, Acorn, the New Black Panther Party and massive Democrat voter fraud.

We are tired of being called racists, bigots, irrational and ignorant by Democrat elites.

We are angry about the $3 trillion of stimulus spending that did nothing. We are angry about huge bailouts. We are tired of the national debt growing to over $13.6 trillion.

We are anxious about keeping our jobs and paying the mortgage.

We are panicking about higher taxes on businesses and families.

We hate Obamacare. We hate the Nancy Pelosi/Harry Reid Congress that ignored the will of the people.

We never believed him when he promised to work with Republicans, that he would be bipartisan. That he would be transparent. He also promised to be post-racial, a healer.

We are tired of Obama insulting our country overseas while ignoring our borders.

Mark Halperin at Time, not a right-wing pundit, recently wrote: “Most politically engaged elites have reached the same conclusions: the White House is in over its head, isolated, insular, arrogant and clueless about how to get along with or persuade members of Congress, the media, the business community or working-class voters.”

What are we to make of his recent divisive radio interview with Univision? This from a Charles Krauthammer article on Oct. 29: “President Obama chided Latinos who ‘sit out the election instead of saying, we’re gonna punish our enemies and we’re gonna reward our friends . . .’ Quite a uniter . . .”

Do I sound like a bigot? A racist? Tea Partyers are only part of the growing national groundswell that kicked Democrats out of Congress in record numbers (61 reps and seven senators are now new Republican congressman; 113 of 129 Tea Party candidates won across the U.S.). Even Mr. Obama admitted his party was “shellacked” in the election.

Noted national political analyst and author P.J. O’Rourke recently concluded that: “This is not an election on Nov. 2. This is a restraining order. Power has been trapped, abused and exploited by Democrats.”

I reject Mr. Foster’s arguments. So do most Americans.

Finally, we don’t need to sell Woof Tickets, Mr. Foster. We won, using logic, debate and the ballot. We have halted Obama’s agenda and hope to roll it back as soon as possible. And we can’t wait for the next election in 2012!

Peter Robb

Holliston and

Oak Bluffs

THE ROAD TO PRAGUE

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

Again this year, the community demonstrated incredible generosity and support for the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School Minnesingers at the annual auction, held at the P.A. club on Saturday evening, both by donating wonderful auction items and by attending the event. There are many people to thank, beginning with first the Minnesinger parents’ group whose tireless efforts on behalf of their kids paid off with tasty food, lovely decor, amazing auction items and an all-around good time. Charlene Alley and everyone at the P.A. club are also to be thanked for their valuable assistance and a great venue. Thanks also to Trip Barnes, expert auctioneer, who always keeps the crowd engaged and entertained, and to Sal Esposito and Daniel Reid, who provided acoustic guitar music during the silent auction.

The Minnesingers will attempt to repay the Island community with a celebration of holiday music at the winter concerts in December, at their spring shows in May, and as ambassadors of music, representing Martha’s Vineyard and the United States, on their performance tour to Prague and Paris in April. Thanks to all.

Janis Wightman

Aquinnah

The writer is director of the Minnesingers.

ACE Thanks

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

On behalf of the Adult and Community Education fund-raising committee, please accept our deepest thanks for supporting our efforts to continue quality educational opportunities and our celebration of the diverse cultures on the Island. We are extremely grateful for the generous community participation in the first annual ACE MV Cultural Festival.

The mission of ACE MV is to provide educational opportunities for enrichment, practical training, college credit and lifelong learning that bridge generations and cultures to improve the quality of life for all members of our community. The generosity of so many caring friends allows us to make our first fundraiser a memorable experience.

Lynn Ditchfield

Edgartown

The writer is director of Adult and Community Education of Martha’s Vineyard.

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.