UNSPEAKABLE TRAGEDY

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

I weep. For 30 years I have held my tongue, not wanting to be an Ibsenian “Enemy of the People.” Two weeks ago I was crossing the Look street intersection and saw a family — with an infant in one of those little carts! — struggling up the hill, unaware of the near-death experiences that await them, not just on that section of State Road, but riding to Gay Head or even just Lambert’s Cove Road. I can still feel the pit in my stomach.

And yet, aside from the most tepid caveats, no one says a thing. Just look on the Web: “Choosing to see the Island by bicycle is a great way to soak up the Vineyard’s character.” (Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce). “A cyclist’s paradise.” (Frommer’s). Surely Mayor Stockmann is right: The water in our town is just fine.

Please, off-Islanders: If you are a Lycra-suited bike fanatic, come on over, you’ll know just what to do, and probably have a great time. But, for regular bikers, the Vineyard is often as not biking hell. There are a couple of nice (and safe) paths, like the one to Katama, and the route from Oak Bluffs to Edgartown, along the Sound — lovely. Biking through Edgartown: dreamy (at least off-season).

But you can bake to death on the much-vaunted State Forest biking paths — or die of monotony — unless you do them under moonlight. And, notwithstanding Herculean efforts, the bulk of the ride from Vineyard Haven (the point of entry for most cyclists) to Aquinnah is a terror of narrow, crumbling shoulders, difficult hills, sandy curves, blind turns and 45 mph traffic (itching to get past you with an inch or two to spare).

Please, unless you are a dead-on experienced biker, don’t do it. And don’t, don’t, don’t bring your children. Take the lovely Falmouth-to-Woods Hole path, or the Cape Cod Canal. Picket a wind farm, save a whale, do whatever, but don’t come here. It is not permitted speech, but the water in this town is dangerous.

Christopher Gray

Vineyard Haven

and New York city.

BETTER BIKE SAFETY

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

I hope that the death of Dina Dececca compels us to improve the Island’s bicycling facilities, now.

Unsafe conditions have been recognized for many years.

The Martha’s Vineyard Commission’s 2009 bicycle report states: “Missing [bicycle path] links create safety hazardous for users.” If anyone questions the validity of this statement, I suggest that they take a bicycle ride to experience the hazards first hand (but not tragically, like Dina).

Chris Fried

Vineyard Haven

The writer is a member of the Martha’s Vineyard pedestrian and bicycle committee.

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COUNTERPOINT

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

The full page POINT advertisement so prominent on the back page last Friday makes a few good points about the state’s plan and raises some questions about wind power that must be addressed for any responsible offshore turbine project. On the other hand, there are many misleading assertions in this and similar ads. It’s getting really tiresome. Let me respond again in order to those.

Wind power will reduce our oil dependence. Transportation, home heating and some electricity, comprising 62 per cent of our Island energy use, is derived from oil. We envision those uses being mostly renewable electric by 2050.

Wind power will reduce carbon dioxide emissions — about 1.3 pounds for every kilowatt hour we generate with wind. Don’t be confused by the need for back-up capacity.

National Grid will pay about a third more per kilowatt hour for energy generated by Cape Wind than conventional sources; it won’t make much of a difference to the average ratepayer. Vineyard Power members will pay less than they do now and be immune from uncertainty in the price of fossil fuel-based electricity.

As noted in the ad, taxpayers will pay 30 per cent of the cost to construct offshore wind turbines. According to Saturday’s New York Times, taxpayers already pay oil, coal and gas companies $4 billion a year in subsidies that began in the late 19th century to help stimulate a new business then. Give you any ideas?

We need every bit of renewable energy we can develop. There is not nearly enough excess available from other states or Canada. Why would we want jobs and revenue to go to another state? Vineyard Power wants to know why you would even want it to go to the mainland?

Paul Pimentel

Edgartown

The writer is chairman of Vineyard Power.

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LITTERBUGS

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

I live near trails and a stream, and I take walks there frequently. Sometimes I see trash on the side of the path or near the stream — beer bottles, empty cigarette packs, plastic and old food wrappers. When I pick up the trash, I am disgusted by the people who litter on my trails, people who disregard our Island environment.

Martha’s Vineyard is a pristine place where people can relax and take beautiful walks. We must all do our part to preserve our Island. Please take the extra time to put your garbage in the trash, and if you see litter, even if it isn’t yours, you can still pick it up.

It’s not right to watch our Island swallowed up in filthy debris. Wherever you go — on the beach, in the woods, or along the side of the road — pick up the trash you see; it’s as easy as that!

Please help to keep this magical Island as beautiful as possible.

Sophia de Geofroy

West Tisbury

The writer is a sixth grade student at the West Tisbury School.

KATAMA AIRFieLD

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

Kudos to Megan Dooley and Mike Creato for offering important insight into the past 65 years of Katama Airfield operational management . . . or lack thereof. Finally, Islanders can assess the airfield management’s ability to operate and sustain the resources under their control. It is hard to imagine the difference in the Gazette pictures of the facilities if just $10 of every ear-aching, window-rattling, bone-numbing biplane ride, $1 for every gastronomic diner delight, and $15 from a grass landing and take-off fee had been put toward the upkeep of the Katama facility instead of going into a concessionaire’s pocket. I trust the Islandwide community would agree that modern municipal budgeting, county allocations and state bailouts should not fund a few aerial acrobats who have had, apparently, a free hand and a free ride to pursue their hobby for 65 years. Going forward, if asked whether airfield or a hay field . . . my family votes: bah, bah, moo, moo.

Victor Colantonio

Edgartown

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OIL SPILL THOUGHTS

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

My older brother, a geologist, asked for my thoughts on BP and the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico from an oceanographer’s perspective:

• If BP would stop using oil dispersants — they are horrible biologically.

• If the state of Louisiana would stay out of it — building barrier islands is ineffective, oceanographically, and destructive, biologically.

• If the engineers would stay out of it — we have to realize there are some things we cannot engineer our way out of.

• If we hold BP liable for the long-term — realize that they were unprepared for this, but currently doing the best that industry has to offer.

• If the public would continue its dialogue, but quit demanding of our government that it be fixed immediately; it cannot be done.

• If people would accept responsibility for the spill (where it really lies), and shoulder blame for the destruction of ecosystems and an economy — in our hyper-consumerism and our insatiable desire for cheap fuel, then, and only then, perhaps we will all come to understand that ultimately, in 50 or so years, the earth will cleanse itself, but only if we find a way to:

• Emphasize and seek other means and sources of energy, and get over and end our desperate thirst for fossil energy;

• Bike more, carpool, take the bus or train;

• Live more frugally — four-wheel drive SUVs were meant for off-road work, not for picking up children from school;

• Respect the only home we have.

Stephen Cofer-Shabica

Oak Bluffs

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SLIPPERY SLOPE

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

Yesterday there was a “spill” in downtown Edgartown. It was an accident. The town is cleaning up the mess . . . like BP in the Gulf.

Should the town be responsible for lost wages and profits of the businesses that were forced to close?

When will the ACLU and other lawyers get in on the act on behalf of all who are harmed by accidents that cause them to lose wages? Profits?

This is a very slippery slope that we are on.

M. Neely

Edgartown

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DISTANT RUMBLES

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

Congratulations to James Kennedy Jr. for his letter to the editor in the June 24 Gazette. I doubt if I could have expressed his sentiment more eloquently, though I could add a few more disturbing facts.

We have been following an economic path that can only lead to an eventual disastrous conclusion.

I believe I can hear a distant rumbling — not too far away. As Glenn Beck would say, from time to time: “I hope I’m wrong!”

Norman Reed

Oak Bluffs

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GOOD IDEA

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

History tells us that during the Revolutionary War the crews from British ships took a great number of sheep to slaughter for the meat. And yet, now almost 250 years later, they have not offered payment. During this time the many residential retaining rock walls have greatly increased in number and the cost of good, fresh cuts of meat has gradually increased, in part due to off-Island slaughtering. A while ago a slaughterhouse on wheels was available here for chickens, turkeys and ducks, but didn’t serve the real purpose.

This Island is now home to over 50 farms with extensive retaining rock walls, meadows and fertile open land which could feed many cattle, pigs, sheep and goats.

Interest is developing in conducting a centralized, well-equipped slaughterhouse permanently available on the Island.

In addition, a portion of the finished product could become a source of year-round employment and a real export, which we need.

The federal government is showing an interest and has agreed to contribute $40,000 for a determination of need, location and cost.

Let’s get behind such a promising endeavor. Speak to your neighbors, farmers and friendly politicians.

Dr. James Walter Knapp

Edgartown

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MARINE HOSPITAL MEMORIES

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

I read your cover story in the June 4 issue of the Vineyard Gazette about the former United States Marine Hospital with delight and nostalgia. My aunt, Beatrice Dupree, was a public health service nurse at the hospital until it closed in 1952. She had been transferred to the Vineyard after serving in Hawaii during World War II and after a short stint in Boston.

I first came to the Vineyard in the summer of 1949 at the age of eight, and stayed with her at her home on Skiff avenue, next to the house of Alma and Thomas Tilton. Judy Hinckley lived up the hill at the back of the house, so she and I hung out together every summer that I was there. We also palled around with Carol Silva who lived near Judy, and Linda and Peter Cunnimgham who visited their grandparents in the summer at their house on Causeway Road. I went to camp on the Island too. It was the beginning of a lifelong love affair with the Vineyard.

One year I went to the Island in the spring, and Judy and I made May baskets and took them to the soldiers in the Marine Hospital. I remember so well how we looked for May flowers in the woods behind Judy’s house, and how much care we took in decorating the baskets with crepe paper, and then filling them. My aunt took us around to distribute the baskets. The servicemen were so appreciative of them.

I loved to go up the stone front steps from Lagoon Pond Road to the hospital grounds. Those steps are almost invisible now because of the overgrown brush. Then I’d cross the lawn and turn and look at the view from right in front of the front stairs to the porch. But normally we’d walk down Skiff avenue and through the back of the property to get to the hospital.

My family and I went to the Vineyard every so often after my aunt left. For several years we stayed at the Crocker Guest House when Mildred Ashcroft ran it. Then in 1972 we started staying at Causeway Harborview because we had known the Woods family. And we’ve stayed there for our Vineyard vacation ever since.

Writing this letter has prompted me to get out old pictures. I have some of Judy and me, a crew of kids swimming at the Lagoon, and assorted others from my childhood summers on the Vineyard.

Thank you for the article and the memories.

Faith Knabe

Monroe Township, N.J.

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HOSPITAL’S CONTRIBUTION

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

The following letter was sent to Timothy Sweet, chairman of the board of trustees at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital:

The Edgartown selectmen would like to take this opportunity to bring a couple of things to your attention.

We are aware that, under the requirements of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital is required to contribute approximately five per cent of the total cost of the recently completed construction project to benefit some aspect of community public health.

We would like to request the hospital assist in finding a new home for the Martha’s Vineyard Center for Living, an independent nonprofit organization that works with the Island councils on aging to provide needed services for our senior citizens. The offices for the center are housed in Edgartown and the services are provided through the senior centers in Oak Bluffs, Tisbury and Edgartown. This is not a tenable situation. Perhaps there would be space available in the old hospital or you might have other suggestions.

We would also like to take this opportunity to suggest the county Health Care Access program could be funded with the same funds. This program provides a needed service, which actually assists the hospital. They help clients maneuver their way through the laws regarding medical insurance.

These are programs that are now being funded by taxpayers from all six towns. The towns are all dealing with many budget issues these days and any relief helps.

Margaret Serpa, Arthur Smadbeck,

Michael J. Donaroma

Edgartown