What follows is an edited selection of reader comments from the Gazette Web site last week.

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Court Rules No Price Fixing on Gas

I’d love to know the reasoning why everyone is going crazy over gas prices on this Island. This is the United States of America. People are allowed to make a profit. And not just people who sell your beloved so-called organic foods. How about doing an article on the price of food at Cronig’s? How about mentioning they charge you almost a buck for a bag to put your over-priced organic groceries in? Or the price of food at restaurants, office supplies etc, etc. Everything is more expensive here. Get over it. People make a choice to live here. And how much do we really drive here? I would bet the average Island total gas bill is less than half the average commuter off-Island.

I would also add that Mr. Paciello and other owners took on substantial risk of capital to purchase these fueling stations. I don’t know for sure, but I would also say they pay a ton for insurance, taxes and every other fee the towns can think of. I know if I went to the bank for a loan for $2 million they would laugh in my face. I’d like to take this time to say thank you to Mr. Paciello and other owners who took on the risk to provide us with gas, and since they took the risk they are allowed to make a profit without being badgered in the papers for it.

David Parent

Oak Bluffs

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Before you even got your article out the gas prices went from $3.85 to $4.05 at the Depot gas station — exactly for the reasons given by the judge is why it should have been found illegal. That and the fact that two of the gas stations are also wholesalers and one sells to two of the Edgartown gas stations which has the highest prices on the Vineyard leaves only half the stations to compete against these four. And the remaining five try to have lower prices, but it’s hard to compete against another station that is also the wholesaler. Another injustice to the people that live here year-round.

Robert Norton

Edgartown

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I like the last sentence. “Apparently, bicycles are the way to go on Martha’s Vineyard.” Considering that nationwide the average automobile trip is just around five miles, I wonder what the average trip is on the Island?

If every licensed driver nationwide were to use alternative transportation (such as a bicycle) and leave their car at home, we could cut oil imports in half.

David Whitmon

Oak Bluffs

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Regular gas in Montreal is at the equivalent of $5.36 per gallon this week. Your prices are a relative bargain.

Erik Schuddeboom

Coteau-du-Lac, Quebec

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Wind Farm Leases Delayed

I am saddened that the tone of the debate about wind farms off Martha’s Vineyard is sounding like “it’s a done deal” for wind development. Especially when you have so many folks like Joyce of Oak Bluffs [who posted a comment] who don’t even know about the proposed development. There are no turbines out there yet, and every Vineyarder should be in full protest mode.

These wind turbines are a sham. Just looking at the corruption behind these developments is enough to sicken me. But then look at the impact to the environment. There has been no study, that I know of, addressing the impact to the marine life, the fishing industry or largest right whale population seen in modern history right off our coast. The BOEMRE is the new name for the MMS which is the federal body responsible for approving the BP oil rigs.

The unsightly development will ruin our pristine views. Imagine hundreds if not thousands of turbines 525 feet tall. That’s 210 taller than Prospect Hill and 420 feet taller than the highest point on Cuttyhunk! Go to the cliffs in Aquinnah and look out at Cuttyhunk and Noman’s Land and imagine this view!

Lastly, the real issue here is how to meet our energy needs. I am hugely opposed to mountain-top removal for domestic coal mining. But at the same time I’m against this ocean-based wind development. The issue is our electricity consumption. We can meet our needs easily with conservation. Somehow, that’s a dirty word to those who seek to profit from these developments. This ocean-based development is a spruce-goose. It’s too big, too archaic, too expensive, and does not “fly” when there is no wind. We can not cash in our beautiful environment willy-nilly, just to meet the supposed demand of our blind, ever-growing consumption. I urge all Vineyarders, especially those who do not really know the facts but are in favor of this development, to really seek out the facts. It’s easy to see that we have to fight this. The battle is not over. There is no development yet! Keep our beautiful Vineyard environment undisturbed for the fish, birds, whales and yes, even us humans.

Craig Hockmeyer

Vineyard Haven

and Aquinnah

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Craig, you say that you aren’t aware of any studies of wind development on the fishing industry, marine habitat, etc. that you are aware of. That strikes me as either extremely odd or rather disingenuous since there is a mountain of data readily available online.

You also say you are sickened by the corruption going on with these developments. Are you unaware that the Canal Plant in Sandwich which happens to primarily burn high-sulphur crude oil (remember the last two oil spills in Buzzards Bay) is owned by a company named Enron.

I might suggest that you follow your own advice and seek out the facts, do a bit of research and then determine if your sweeping generalities still hold water.

I did find one thing to agree with in your post though, conservation is always a great idea.

Bob Skydell

Chilmark

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Wind Surfer Makes Heroic Rescue

Well done, Rasmus!

Barb Karlson

Sweden

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May Poseidon watch after you!

Thea Hansen

Oak Bluffs

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A real gentleman.

Rene Mendoza

Cancún

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Rasmus — Nice to have a real waterman (or woman) around to feel the situation inside; to react by muscle memory. I was in a similar situation in the Pan Am Cup in Hawaii about 1982. Rhonda Smith saved me. Also, in a recreational sailboat sinking off Santa Barbara in winter 1969, when an 11-year-old sailor on a bluff with a toy telescope alerted authorities. Hey, thanks! Otherwise I would have been a goner for sure. Always wear a life jacket! See you on the course somewhere soon. I have been board sailing since 1969.

Bruce Matlack

Anna Maria, Fla.