HELPING LISA BEN DAVID Scannell

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

On June 9, our friend and barn-mate, Lisa Ben David Scannell, was seriously injured in a riding accident. Lisa is one of the most dedicated horse-women on the Island and the irony of being hurt while doing something as casual as walking a horse instead of doing the more obviously dangerous activities such as jumping, is a painful one. Three families share the privilege of boarding our horses at Bittersweet Farm in Edgartown. We share responsibilities for feeding and many of the mundane barn chores that persist day after day. All of us there have learned about being good horse keepers from Lisa. She is the one who knows each horse so well that she recognizes instantly when one of them is off. Just a month ago that experience quite literally saved an animal’s life. The gap that Lisa’s absence has made in our barn is far wider because of the loss of that experience and caring, not just for the horses, but for all of us.

The road to recovery will be a long and expensive one. A fund has been set up at You’ve Got a Friend Inc., c/o Martha’s Vineyard Savings Bank, P.O. Box 1317, West Tisbury, MA 02575. Checks should be made out to the fund with “Lisa Scannell” on the memo line. A raffle and fund-raising dinner/auction are in the planning stages.

Susan Wilson

Oak Bluffs

This letter was also signed by Sandy Grant, Emma Vancour and Martha Vancour.

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NEED UNABATED

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

Another summer season on Martha’s Vineyard enters full swing and the strong need for decent year-round housing for many of the Island’s working families continues. The Dukes County Regional Housing Authority is a publicly chartered entity whose mission is to help the towns of Martha’s Vineyard identify and provide quality, year-round housing opportunities for Island residents earning low to moderate incomes.

During the past year, each of the Island towns has continued to develop new rental and ownership opportunities even as the struggle with an economy in turmoil continues for all of us. The housing authority serves a role as an administrative support and information center for many in their efforts to obtain sustainable, year-round affordable housing. Currently our rental wait list numbers 193 households, while 281 individuals wait for news of ownership opportunities.

The housing authority is committed to addressing this community need by assisting the Island towns in their pursuit of new projects, while continuing as their administrator of existing programs. Thank you for this opportunity to provide some clarity of our role and for your town’s support of our efforts.

Todd Christy

Chilmark

The writer is chairman of the Dukes County Regional Housing Authority.

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BEAUTIFULLY DONE

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

Kudos to Ms. Schlossberg for her warm and sensitive article about Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard! Not only was it descriptive of the work of a longstanding Island agency, but it was truly informative! The mission of the Hospice team was well explored and beautifully presented.

I sense that many of the Island residents and visitors alike are still unaware that there are two Hospices on the Island and do not know the differences between the two. Ms. Schlossberg went a long way for us in examining the differences, not an easy thing to do. Well done, and thanks to you!

Patsy McCornack

Vineyard Haven

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HYDRANGEA THERAPY

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

The staff and consumers of Lagoon Heights, a residential program of fellowship and health resources located on the Vineyard, would like to thank Matt and Bridget Tobin at Tea Lane Nursery and Eden Market for their gracious donation of hydrangea shrubs to our program. The beautiful shrubs have contributed to the peaceful, homelike, and therapeutic environment that we strive to achieve at our residence.

Shawn Shaw

West Tisbury