MONSTER SPECTACLE

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

Public spectacles like the annual monster shark tournament have much in common with the gladiator games conducted in the Coliseum during ancient Roman festivals. Large, adoring crowds immersed in a circuslike atmosphere amid unbridled commercial activity, awaiting the extravaganza of torture, execution and the eventual display of victims.

Efforts to justify such activities are insulting. The simple truth is it’s all about the money. In the final analysis, the bottom line trumps all other considerations and points of view. Institutions such as the media, Chamber of Commerce and scientific community become little more than propagandists for event organizers.

The agonizing deaths and public display of 13 sharks last week and the likely deaths of many more undersized and therefore “released” sharks represents an assault on the sanctity of the natural world.

The town of Oak Bluffs along with the president of the Boston Big Game Club have determined that the death of each shark was valued at $154,000, resulting in a $2 million boost to the economy of the town. With that amount of financial incentive it is likely that the tournament will remain an important fixture in the economic life of Oak Bluffs. It can be reasonably assumed that the tournament will continue until the shark population is exploited to the point of exhaustion and eventual collapse.

James Baldwin wrote, “People who shut their eyes to reality simply invite their own destruction, and anyone who insists on remaining in a state of innocence long after that innocence is dead turns himself into a monster.” Mr. Baldwin’s observation invites the question: Who is the real monster in the monster shark tournament?

Steve Maxner

West Tisbury

BAD DECISIONS

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

Why do Margaret Serpa and her board of selectmen want to sell out historic Edgartown’s South Water street to fast food special interests?

Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard, America’s finest colonial era village succumbs to special interests as it moves towards final approval for an outdoor, fast-food, nightlife bar-café on historic South Water street.

My fellow South Water street neighbors and I are shocked that the zoning board and board of selectmen would allow approval without a review by either the historic district commission or the Martha’s Vineyard Commission.

Future Edgartown residents will question why selectman and board chairman Margaret Serpa and zoning board of appeals chairman John Magnuson willingly exposed their personal reputations to this bizarre decision.

Ruth Jervis

Edgartown

FIELD GALLERY UNCHANGED

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

It has come to our attention that articles about the recent sale of the Field Gallery and the Maley property in West Tisbury have caused some confusion. We would like to take this opportunity to set the record straight by assuring everyone that the gallery is open and exhibiting the wonderful artists the gallery is known for.

The town of West Tisbury purchased the property in late spring. We applaud and congratulate the town for having the foresight to acquire the gallery building and adjacent grounds that have delighted visitors for more than 40 years.

This action will preserve an important cultural landmark for future generations to enjoy. It has been our pleasure to operate the gallery since 2002 and we plan to continue in this beautiful Island location for many years to come.

We wish you a very happy summer.

Chris and Sheila Morse

West Tisbury

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A LIBRARY’S JOURNEY

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

In the aftermath of a sold-out, hugely successful evening with David McCullough at the Agricultural Hall on Wednesday, July 20, the West Tisbury Library Foundation wishes to thank Mr. McCullough for his deeply engaging presentation based on his new book, The Greater Journey. We are indebted to Mr. McCullough in many ways, for this evening’s benefit for the foundation, for his championing of the West Tisbury library expansion and fund-raising campaign as honorary chairman of the foundation, and for his and Mrs. McCullough’s unfailing generosity to the library now and in years past. Like so many programs and events that enrich the Island, this was a community-wide event and would not have been possible without the volunteer and donated support of many establishments and individuals.

To the donors, supporters, backers and fans — listed individually in our earlier notice in this paper — whose generous sponsorship donations allowed us to offer Mr. McCullough and the audience a fully equipped and professionally staged event, our grateful thanks. We also extend warm thanks to the scores of volunteers whose work and contributions were essential to the success of the evening. Many of them have also been acknowledged in these pages; we are deeply appreciative of the efforts of each one of them.

The evening with David McCullough capped a momentous few days in which the library was also named as recipient of a $2.9 million state grant for the library expansion. The foundation must help put up matching funds and has a $2 million fund-raising goal (for which we will sponsor several other events throughout the summer and fall). The success of this evening will help greatly in meeting our goal. Again, to Mr. McCullough and all who made this event possible as well as everyone who enjoyed it from a seat in the audience, we send our sincerest thanks.

Hunter Moorman

West Tisbury

The writer is chairman of the West Tisbury Library Foundation.

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A DAY TO SAVOR

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

Thank you to the entire Martha’s Vineyard community for supporting and participating in Della Hardman Day 2011. You made it the best celebration ever! See you next year for the eighth annual event on Saturday, July 28, 2012. Savor the moment!

Andrea L. Taylor

Oak Bluffs

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HONORING DR. NEVIN

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

March 6, 2012 will mark the 15th anniversary of the death of Dr. Robert W. Nevin at the age of 82. At that time the thinking was that this truly modest man, who was a genuine family-practice country doctor, is honored by gifts to the Mayhew/Nevin Fund at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital that has served so many of us so well.

But I submit that this was not nearly enough to honor this truly indispensable man. I believe that only a tuition scholarship toward first year (pre-med) expenses given by the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, or better yet tuition scholarships toward each of four years at medical school to study family practice medicine would be adequate. Perhaps this could be administered by the Permanent Endowment Fund for Martha’s Vineyard.

Please remember that this once impecunious yet indefatigable man actually worked his way through the University of Vermont pre-med undergraduate program as well as its medical school during nearly the entire decade of the 1930s depression. He often could not afford financially to come home to Edgartown on holidays or school vacations. To the very Island town where his ancestors had been the original settlers as well as its most successful whaling masters and whale ship owners.

We, his former patients, who benefitted from his unique medical skills and knowledge so handsomely over nearly half a century, should want to make it easier for future Island children to get to medical school and then, hopefully, return to the Island to set up a family practice!

I think Dr. Bob might just be quite pleased by this idea.

Perhaps his family and close friends could make this happen?

Peter C. Josephs

Chilmark

The Vineyard Gazette welcomes letters to the editor on any subject concerning Martha’s Vineyard. The newspaper strives to publish all letters as space allows, although the editor reserves the right to reject letters that in her judgment are inappropriate. Letters must be signed, and should include a place of residence and contact telephone number. The Gazette does not publish anonymous letters.