SHACK OWNERS REACT

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

Two of the selectmen have decided to make the shack owners in Menemsha insure the lots they lease from the town, even though the town already has insurance. I called the two selectmen that voted for this and was told they are doing this for the Chilmark people and taxpayers. The two selectmen passed this without any input from us as we weren’t notified of this meeting. My guess is that we aren’t considered Chilmark people or taxpayers (we are) so they just passed it.

If you want to help us get this repealed, please go to the town of Chilmark Web site and click on “selectmen.” All the information is there (there is also a front-page story in last Friday’s Gazette), or better yet, come to the meeting March 2 at 7 p.m. at the Chilmark town hall. If you don’t want to help us, please just stay home.

Walter (Pat) Jenkinson

Chilmark

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FREE MENEMSHA

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

After several years of watching two of the Chilmark selectmen interfering with Menemsha, I think I may have a solution. This would be to split the two towns, making Menemsha the town of Menemsha with Warren Doty as its only selectman. Mr. Doty seems to be the only one trying to keep it low key without a lot of bureaucratic nonsense while preserving its fishing fleet. Chilmark would get to keep the other two selectmen. The present harbor master could be moved to upper Chilmark Pond with his new large building, and take care of that, thus leaving Menemsha to pretty much run itself. Seems simple!

Jon Vincent

New Bedford

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MAKE DO

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

Once again the proposal for a large building (two feet wider than Menemsha Texaco) is in the works for the town harbor department. This structure would rest on a cement foundation, thus making it permanent and forever changing the waterfront of Menemsha.

Several years ago the parks and recreation committee granted permission for a temporary small structure on a fisherman’s lot to be used by the harbor master. This present structure fits in and serves its purpose for the smallest harbor on the Island. It can easily and cheaply be repaired, and can be kept in use for a long time to come. Now is not the time to spend big money on something we don’t need. When we went through this two years ago, the finance committee did not recommend it. If in fact a new office is needed, a small garden-type shed can be purchased for a tenth of the cost, placed on skids and removed during the off-season. After all, it’s really only used a few months out of the year.

Open space on the harbor is a great asset to have and to leave to our children and visitors. Whatever happened to make-do? I believe a meeting is to be held with selectmen on March 2. Should be a lively one.

Wayne V. Iacono

Chilmark

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PROMPT ATTENTION

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

The following letter was sent to the Tisbury police chief with a similar letter sent to fire chief John Schilling.

Sunday, Feb. 7, my wife and I were awakened by the screeching of the smoke alarm in our house. I got up and went downstairs and was greeted by a huge ball of oily, gray smoke. I immediately called the 911 emergency number for both the police and fire departments, and I was mightily relieved to see your blue light in our driveway, followed almost immediately by the flashing red lights of the fire department. I confess I do not know the name of the two officers but I can tell you they were fully prepared, friendly and efficient. We were dressed in little more than night clothes, but were firmly escorted into the warm town ambulance staffed with two knowledgable and equally friendly EMTs.

The problem was with the oil burner whose fuel filter was plugged, and raw fuel was spilling into a combustion chamber. Needless to say, it could have been a disastrous conflagration, but fortunately it was not and the fire department made short work of stopping the flow of oil and airing out the house, which was drenched in smoke. In a little more than an hour we were returned to an ice-cold house, but there was no fire and the oil burner was cleaned and repaired in short order.

We would like to commend the police department as well as the fire department for their prompt, efficient, friendly and courteous attentions.

Thomas Hale

Vineyard Haven

A PHARMACIST KNOWS

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

I would like to thank Judy Mayhew for her recognition of the work all pharmacists do in preventing medication errors. Medication errors including wrong drug, incorrect dose, or improper use harm at least 1.5 million people each year, according to the Institute of Medicine. Patients can be proactive by frequenting the same pharmacy where an accurate medication history is kept, avoiding mail-order pharmacies, by being familiar with their medications, and by supporting the governments initiative for universal electronic medical records.

Tamara Hersh

West Tisbury