I appreciate the technical, legal, and subjective arguments over managing Chappaquiddick beaches to accommodate responsible over-sand vehicle (OSV) access. But really, isn’t our overarching obligation that we preserve the culture that sets our Island lifestyle apart.

The national media conjures images of wealth and celebrity on a summer playground, but the Vineyard is also at heart a community of hardworking, year-round Islanders, some of whom have lived here for generations, others who are new arrivals striving to make ends meet.

Will future generations be able to drive on East Beach and set out a sand spike in anticipation of a big catch or dip net scallops in Cape Poge Pond? Or simply sit back and enjoy the camaraderie of family and friends under the sun and stars?

One memorable evening, Jared Hull of West Tisbury and I crossed the Dike Bridge, passing a lone fisherman, and headed to Cape Poge. The night’s humidity absorbed our headlights. It was very dark, with only shades of black where the sky met the water.

The outgoing current was a tidal river carrying a glowing stream of phosphorescence, small pulsating creatures, part of a galaxy of life in an ocean Milky Way. A few other fishermen came and went. The occasional glow of lights on the other side revealed other fishermen.

Just past the jetties, we started catching large striped bass. Because of the phosphorescence, every strike was marked by an explosion of light. Sometimes, an accelerating striped bass chasing the fly across the water would be visible as a streak of light.

It was a magical night of fishing I don’t expect to be duplicated for my enjoyment. But I hope future generations can slowly drive along the beach, scanning the current nearby for an oily bluefish slick, or roam Cape Poge at night listening for the “baloop, baloop” that indicates surface-feeding striped bass.

On my last visit to Chappy in many years, I saw that the owners of the so-called “windmill house” along the elbow that leads to Cape Poge Gut had created a narrow travel corridor marked with multiple signs at both ends and wire strung along the entire route. They are, of course, well within their property rights. But those signs are symptoms of a deplorable and careless attitude that will certainly erode, and ultimately destroy, the priceless neighborly bonds at the core of our community if the culture of public access on Chappaquiddick disappears.

Nelson Sigelman lives in Vineyard Haven.