UNVARNISHED TRUTH

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

Stark and troubling as it was to read, Liz Durkee’s “What Climate Change Means to You” on the Gazette Commentary Page last Friday was a breath of fresh air. It is the unvarnished truth, a description of what is happening right now — today — and what will intensify in the years to come.

Yes, the die is already cast, in some measure, but this moment can mark the beginning of a long and fruitful Vineyard climate change discussion about recognition, mitigation, adaptation, and limiting the damage once and for all. We may not succeed at influencing a congress intent on changing the laws of gravity, but locally we can tend to our future, and our children’s, and must.

Thank you, Liz, for writing this honest appraisal, and thank you, Gazette, for publishing it.

John Abrams

West Tisbury

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HIGH AND DANGEROUS

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

Abuse of drugs on the Island by our children, as evidenced by several recent news articles, has always been a problem here. I feel part of the blame is on our school system, for not fully educating our kids on the dangers of the various addictive drugs, especially the opiates. The schools should bring in ex-addicts and have them speak to the students as early as sixth grade. Students contemplating use of opiates need to hear the dangers from the few junkies that have survived.

We also have a situation where our health and mental doctors are quickly and overprescribing pills, as they have gotten too lazy and forgotten how to properly diagnose illnesses. Have you visited any doctor without walking away without a basket of prescriptions? And I know there are no comparative studies on how all these chemical drugs interact with all the other drugs the patient is often taking. Everyone should realize that you are a testing dummy for the drug companies; after you are handed their drugs, the drug companies closely monitor your negative reactions.

My dreams are often years in the future, where a child addicted to drugs has dreams that are often never more than a few hours, and those few hours are looking for a new source of drugs.

Paul Adler

West Tisbury

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ROUNDABOUT NOT NEEDED

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

Does everyone realize what is about to happen at the intersection of Edgartown and Barnes Roads in Oak Bluffs? The state is close to building a roundabout. A roundabout is a one-lane travel circle with the goal of keeping traffic moving (improvement of flow.) The design is complete with crosswalks and bike lanes, signage and lighting. The price is $1.1 million state and federal dollars. There will no longer be stop signs. Bikes and mopeds will be allowed to use it. This is a very expensive, questionable project.

At the public hearing last Wednesday afternoon, there were no current statistics to show the dramatic decline in accidents, especially serious ones, since the four-way stop was implemented five years ago. Isn’t that what propelled this process in the first place? The question I had was, since it appears that the four-way stop is working, why fix something that isn’t broken? The answer from an Oak Bluffs selectman was that the four-way stop is deemed a “temporary solution.” Who says?

It was also stated that the residents of Oak Bluffs do not need to use that intersection to get to their own destinations. It is we, all the citizens and guests of the Vineyard, who will use it the most. So, if I understand correctly, five Oak Bluffs selectmen, whose citizens do not tend to go through this busy intersection to conduct their business, have the power to give the go-ahead or the no-ahead for a project that will affect everyone else on the Island for many years. Why was this not referred to the Martha’s Vineyard Commission as a DRI?

If we need to make further improvements because of backups at the four-way stop, why not put in a traffic light? In the spirit of problem solving (if there is still a perception of a problem), what would it take to install a traffic light similar to the one on the Woods Hole Road, with timers for things like a long green light, short red light, for the Edgartown Road, and a correspondingly long red light, short green light, for Barnes Road? Timers would give the heavier traffic on the Edgartown Road the advantage it deserves, create a safe way to allow pedestrians and bikers to cross, and even allow emergency vehicles the ability to clear the intersection for their passage. Answer: public pressure and a lot less than $1 million.

Is that the sound of the Oak Bluffs selectmen and Martha’s Vineyard Commission office phones ringing, or the sound of silence?

If you love a roundabout, do nothing.

Marie Laursen

Tisbury

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TAX POLICIES

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

Last year, John Paulson, a hedge fund manager took home $4.9 billion, according to The New York Times. Ten years ago, 25 such managers together earned that much. Last year, the top 25 hedge fund managers took in a total of $22 billion. It would take over 440,000 people, each earning $50,000, to match that amount.

How did this happen? Between 1948 and 1979, the richest 10 per cent of families in the U.S. received 33 per cent of average income growth. Between 2000 and 2007, the richest 10 per cent got 100 per cent of the average income growth in the U.S., according to the Economic Policy Institute.

Business taxes were cut from 46 to 34 per cent 25 years ago. But today 115 of the big 500 companies listed on Standard and Poor’s stock index paid federal and other taxes of less than 20 per cent over the last five years, according to David Leonhardt of The New York Times. General Electric’s tax rate for the last year was seven per cent.

The top five per cent of U.S. households claim 63 per cent of the entire country’s wealth, while the bottom 80 per cent hold just 13 per cent. In other words, recently the rich have been getting richer and the poor and middle class have been getting poorer in the U.S. This has been called “Robin Hood in Reverse” — and it is the primary cause of the deficits President Obama inherited.

In a major speech, our president renewed his call to raise tax rates on family income over $250,000. He said that the size of the deficit over the next decade must be reduced but not in ways that further damage the lives of those “without clout.” The America (and the Vineyard) we cherish is a place where we care for each other.

The president’s views are supported by the vast majority of American people. In a newly-released Washington Post-ABC poll, almost three-quarters of Americans are in favor of his call to raise tax rates on family income over $250,000, and 54 per cent support him strongly. The proposal is supported by majorities of Democrats (91 per cent), independents (68 per cent) and Republicans (54 per cent). Americans want to maintain those programs that care for them and others. They oppose cutting spending on Medicare (78 per cent) and on Medicaid (68 per cent).

If you agree with your fellow Americans, you need to make yourself heard. Let the president, our Senators Kerry and Brown, and our Representative Keating know how you feel. It is our future they are talking about in Washington.

Zee Gamson

Chilmark

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BAD PLAN

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

Has the zoning board of appeals in Edgartown lost their mind? How can they approve an 80 and then a 60-seat outdoor restaurant with only one public hearing? Why did they not refer this to the MVC las they were supposed to? Why then did they allow the change to 49 seats after they approved 60 seats with no more discussion? Was this all legal? Sounds like the good old boy network is alive and well in Edgartown. The zoning board has egg on their face with the way they handled this one. For the record, they voted 5-0 on this. Not one member thought this was a bad idea. Did Richard Knight really say he wants to encourage business to local residents? He gives the impression that Patrick and Ted Courtney are new to business downtown. The Courtneys already run several business on their own and with their family. Get real here — this is just one more business to them. Mr. Knight should be ashamed to approve this without any real plans in hand. The people of Edgartown do not know what is going on here. Live music, alcohol, outdoor games, open barbecue pits, lights, open-air dining, all on a quiet side street of downtown. Sounds like the Sand Bar in Oak Bluffs has moved to town. One of the best features this Island offers is peace and quiet and this business is going to change the whole corner of a previously quiet street. The neighbors of the Shiretown Inn put up with this for years on North Water street; it will not be any better on South Water street.

Joe Rogers

Edgartown

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WONDERFUL CARE

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

My son and I were visiting my parents over the Easter holiday weekend. My son was treated on Easter Sunday in the emergency room of the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. He had injured his left hand. My son has post-traumatic stress disorder, a condition which makes treating him in any medical situation extremely difficult. This injury required X-rays and five stitches.

My son was treated with patience, dignity and respect. Everyone was kind and more than accommodating. My son can be a difficult patient but still received the best medical care. I want to thank Dr. Peter Laursen and the entire staff. I didn’t get everyone’s names but the triage nurse, X-ray technician and Anne who is an RN were particularly kind.

We will be returning home on Tuesday knowing my son received excellent medical treatment by a caring and extremely competent staff. My son has also had a positive experience in a hospital setting, being treated by strangers.

We would both like to thank the staff at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital for their compassion and wonderful care.

Susan D. Greenbaum

Milford, N.J.

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BRAVO

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

I’d like to thank all the people who were so helpful in making the Minnesingers’ recent performance tour to Prague and Paris such a success: the Minnesinger parents’ group for two years of efforts in fund-raising, the generosity of the Island community, the team that traveled with us, including stage manager Jeff Caruthers, choreographer Lianna Loughmann, accompanist John Gorman, chaperone John Wightman, and parents Nancy Nevin and Cheryl Lowe. Also many thanks to the teachers and staff at the high school for their patience and support. Through their performances and behavior, the Minnesingers were excellent musical ambassadors not only for the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School and the Island but also for America!

Janis Wightman

Aquinnah

The writer is director of the Minnesigners.

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CELEBRATING VOLUNTEERS Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

April marks National Volunteer Month, a time to recognize and celebrate those who volunteer in communities across the country. Although volunteers should be appreciated all year round, I believe that this is a good time to make a point of it. Today, I write on behalf of the many volunteers who so generously give their time to Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard.

Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard is truly the gift from the community to the community. We delight in the commitment and time over 80 volunteers give of themselves to our very important work. With the help of our patient care volunteers, our fund-raising volunteers and our board members who volunteer their expertise and time, we are able to celebrate our 30th year of making a difference in the community and offering unique care to those facing a serious illness or grieving the loss of a loved one. Because of our volunteers’ hard work, we remain able to offer our services completely for free, and, from the day of diagnosis, without the restrictions of insurance reimbursements.

Our volunteers work with the passion of a young child discovering the magic of the anthill. Everyone is busy, working, making our organization vibrant and alive with the promise of our mission and excellent service to the community at the forefront. What our families receive from hospice is a caring, compassionate individual coming to their door and asking, “How can I help?”

Fund-raising volunteers, I so appreciate your monumental efforts and creativity in making our many events fun and successful, Thank you! Patient care volunteers, you know you are our lifeline to many patients and their families and you all make such an amazing difference.

Thank you for all your excellent work with our families. You are truly wonderful! Board members, thank you for your dedication and strength while walking the road of managing our promise to the community. I admire and appreciate each and every one of you, past and present. Of course this letter must include another set of amazing people who do not volunteer for Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard but work directly with all our volunteers — our staff. Thank you for your amazing gifts and for the excellent team you are for our patients and their families. You make my work so meaningful

The variety of ways we support our patients and their families, as well as the patients of Island Hospice, would make you all a very proud community. Please give anyone you know who volunteers for Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard or any organization a hearty thanks next time you see them.

Terre D. Young

West Tisbury

The writer is executive director of Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard.

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PASSING THE GAVEL

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

I have had the pleasure of welcoming Jack Law as the new moderator of Oak Bluffs. It has been a distinct honor to serve the town in that capacity for the last 12 years and I am sure Jack’s terms in office will be mutually rewarding for him and the town he has served.

Shortly after my election in 1999 Duncan Ross brought me a first edition of the Massachusetts Moderators’ Town Meeting Time in which, over the last 60 years, the retiring moderators have recorded the names and dates of each succession. That is a nice tradition, and I believe it is unique to Oak Bluffs. Of course I also passed along the gavel!

My friends, thank you. I will always remember my service with pleasure.

Dave Richardson

Oak Bluffs

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SEARCH FOR GENE

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

Relatives of Eugene Cleaves Smith, who was born in Oak Bluffs in 1897 and died in 1979, would like a photo of him to reproduce. Gene was a veteran of World War I and World War II. He was brought up in the house now belonging to Dr. Jacobs across from Cronig’s. For many years he lived in a camp on Chilmark Pond and was a lifeguard at Menemsha Beach. If one could be found please call 508-627-8719 and leave a message. Thank you for your help.

Nelson C. Smith

Edgartown