HASTY DECISION

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

The Edgartown selectmen chose to include the question of the town’s membership in the Martha’s Vineyard Commission on the special town meeting warrant on Dec. 14. It was done hastily and without any public hearing or discussion or any meaningful effort to negotiate with the MVC about Edgartown’s share of the cost and the benefits to the town of being a member.

The MVC has provided help to the town for many years. Without the MVC we would not have the very good affordable housing that we do now. The Field Club was required by the MVC to give money to the town for affordable housing, as have other major developments.

Approximately 300 houses would have been built in a development by Corey Kupersmith on our border with Oak Bluffs, threatening the adjacent ponds and waterways in both towns with pollution.

A number of years ago when Edgartown voted out of the commission, a development boom ran rampant through the town. There was no way that the town, on its own, could regulate it or protect Edgartown’s special resources.

The MVC has helped Edgartown in many ways over the years. Why not send a strong negotiator to the commission when the budget is under discussion, rather than taking it to town meeting. I can assure you that the developers are just waiting for Edgartown to be out of the MVC, to ride roughshod over the planning board, conservation commission and other boards in Edgartown.

Edith W. Potter

Chappaquiddick

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CELL TOWER IDEA

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

I think the Island of Martha’s Vineyard should let Verizon put cell towers on the windmills or on Martha’s Vineyard somewhere; that way everybody is happy. People who want cell signal get cell signal and the people who don’t can turn off their phones. Some people run businesses from their cell phones and don’t have the time to walk up the street to make a call they could have made from their cell phones. Also, with the population of elderly rising on Martha’s Vineyard I think it would help them by having cell service because if they fall and can’t get to a phone, they may have a cell phone. But if it’s Verizon, I guess they will not be calling for help. I was at the Lambert’s Cove Inn and Verizon was there, and I told them my idea and they loved it. So why don’t we put it in Vineyard Haven somewhere?

Matthew Lieberman

Vineyard Haven

IT’S IN ITS PLACE

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

I read the local papers thoroughly and encourage others to do the same, but sometimes I don’t want young people to read very carefully or they’ll be really confused about the proper use of apostrophes. The Nov. 12 issue of the Gazette caused me to try to compose a relevant rhyme:

Apostrophe, apostrophe, you’re showing up where you should not be!

“Who’s” means who is; apostrophe? Fine,

But “Whose dog is most likely . . .” Stay out of that line!

“It’s” means it is; apostrophe, come in

While “house at its best” does not mean that, apostrophe — sin!

(Well, a grammatical one, anyway.)

Leigh Smith

Vineyard Haven

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HELPING HANDS

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

Since 2002 the West Tisbury junior high school seventh and eighth graders have delivered a huge helping of holiday cheer to families in need. Last week when students from the West Tisbury School arrived with teachers Marsha Curtis and Robyn Maciel-Wingate, they delivered 40 Thanksgiving baskets to be distributed to families in need.

Students Leila Gardner, Anne Ollen, Hadley Chapman, Olivia Ogden, Jessica Sonia, Michelle DeGeofroy, August Welles, Julia Neville, Whitney Schroeder, Madison McBride and Charlie Parkhurst gave their time today to think of others who may not be as fortunate. It is always moving for everyone to see the students proudly unloading the baskets from the bus and bringing them to the different agency programs where they are distributed to Island families.

We share heartfelt appreciation with Marsha and Robyn and the students they inspired. We hope that they all take great pride in the fact that they made a big difference in the way 40 Island families will be enjoying Thanksgiving this year. Beyond the lovely meals provided, the knowledge that they care is sure to bring great warmth to the holiday for those they helped.

Thank you!

Julia Burgess

Oak Bluffs

The writer is executive director of Martha’s Vineyard Community Services.

A SINGULAR MAN

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

In 1964 and 1965, I was in Washington with the U.S. Community Relations Service. We retained Pare Lorentz to produce a documentary on the agency’s work, helping to achieve peaceful integration following the new Civil Rights Law. During that time we became friends, and he used to come to our home in Alexandria to play and sing with me. His favorite song was Wait Till You See Her, which he sang in a rich baritone. We also hit tennis balls on occasion on the nearby school courts. He was a splendid and singular man, and a good friend.

David Pearson

Coral Gables, Fla.

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BOUND FOR GERMANY

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

This year we have much to be thankful for as students studying German; we are getting to visit Germany in April 2011 with our German teacher, Frau Weno. We wish to graciously thank Sherman and Susie Goldstein who were kind enough to give us an empty space in the Mansion House to hold our first fund-raising event, the Holiday Market. We are grateful to Vineyard Bottled Waters for hot drinks, and to the many vendors who came out to support us. Also thanks to all the parents who donated time, baking and other supplies as well as working on Saturday. Lastly thanks to Laura Derby for contributing to the bake sale because visiting Germany when she studied the language had made a difference for her.

Look for more events to help us reach our goal.

Valerie Sonnenthal

Oak Bluffs

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HISTORY FADES

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

An exchange heard this summer at the Scottish Bakehouse:

Sixty-something customer, noticing blank space on wall above counter: “Oh, you don’t have the picture of Mrs. White, Isabella White!”

Twenty-something counter guy: “Who’s she?”

Où sont les neiges d’antan?

Christopher Gray

Chappaquonsett

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AN ISLAND CHARACTER

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

What sadness to see that the beloved A& P Bob has passed. Like countless others, he taught my husband and then son to fish at the town dock in Edgartown. We will never forget his patience and kindness nor his excitement the time our son reeled in a surprise first place derby contender. He cleared the decks and cheered him on, as he always did for the young fishers.

Another Island character who made the Vineyard so special; we will miss him very much.

Kathryn Muir

Oakland, Calif.

and Edgartown