BACK TO SCHOOL

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

Sept. 10 marks the beginning of a new school year for the 2,100 students who attend the Martha’s Vineyard public schools. As this date is fast approaching, I want to reach out to parents and community members of our Island with a few important reminders. To ensure that all of our students arrive safely at school, please be watchful for students walking to school or to their bus stop. Our Island has few sidewalks so many little ones walk for short distances along the road. You will also be seeing our new bus fleet picking up students all across the Island, and please drive carefully whenever you see one of these big yellow vehicles. Our new busses all have outside cameras, so be aware that if you pass a stopped yellow bus with its lights flashing, we will probably have you on film.

Second, I want to reassure all our parents that we have been working hard to develop a plan to handle your concerns about the H1N1 flu since last spring. Our school nurses have been meeting with the local town health agents as well as other Island medical personnel on a regular basis. Our nursing staff and I also attended a Cape and Islands meeting just two weeks ago in order to get the most up-to-date recommendations from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. To ensure that school personnel have the correct and latest information and can respond to your questions quickly, we have implemented a special health network communication system. For the first time in many years, we have formally engaged the services of a school physician so that we will have the most appropriate medical advice. You will receive materials and reminders from your child’s school once we get rolling. I would also urge everyone to participate in the seasonal flu clinic scheduled in late September as a first step in being prepared for the H1N1 flu outbreak that will surely come.

Finally, please remember that this can be a stressful time for young children and there are things you can do to make back to school a more successful time. I recently read an article in a professional journal that listed five good suggestions, and I list them below:

• Avoid the “rude awakening” as the school year begins. It is often helpful to start the school routine at least a few days before school begins. Getting to bed earlier and getting up on time are things that children should practice.

• Especially young children should be reassured by talking about the school day details in advance, such as the time the school day begins and ends and how they will get to school and be picked up.

• Be sure to organize your child’s backpack and school supplies before the first day of school.

• Take responsibility for the numerous school forms in a careful manner so that your child won’t have to worry about them.

• Talk with your child about school in a positive manner. If you think this will be a great year, then your child probably will too.

Let’s all make the 2009-2010 school year a positive and successful one for all our students.

Dr. James H. Weiss,

Schools Superintendent

Oak Bluffs

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STOLEN HENS

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

My relationship with the Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Society Fair began 45-plus years ago. During that time, I have entered the judging competition for crafts, needlework, foods and, for the past seven years, livestock and eggs. My daughters, Samantha and Katy, who are now 19 and 14, have been entering things to be judged since they were little. In all those years, we have never had any problems, until this year.

My family entered eight chickens and my daughters were very proud to have their chickens win ribbons, including the Emma T. Parker Special Award for best overall bantam hen. Imagine my disbelief when I got a call at work from my family, Sunday morning, saying three of our chickens were missing from their cages, including the hen that won the special award.

Needless to say, my family and I are very disheartened and disillusioned to realize that we live in a society that has individuals who would steal livestock right off the fairgrounds, not to mention children’s pets from their cages. What kind of person steals a child’s pet, be it a cat, dog, bird or other animal? I just can’t believe this has happened and I am disgusted. This was not a mistake; these banties were intentionally taken. One was from a cage of two, leaving the other one behind. If they were taken for food, I wish you would have left a note and we would have bought you something to eat. If they were taken as a pet, please treat them kindly and take good care of them. These chickens had names and were a part of my family’s daily life and will be greatly missed.

If any part of you feels guilty for taking these pets, please return them to 15 Menemsha Crossroad in Chilmark, and drop them loose over the stone wall between dawn and dusk, as the raccoons will get them in the dark. Or call 508-645-9751 to arrange a drop-off or pick-up — no questions asked.

If not, I am a true believer in karma and what goes around comes around. You will get your due, eventually.

Thank you to the Capece family for your offer of baby chicks to my children and thank you Scarlet Blair for your offer of a bantam chicken or rooster from your collection. You have restored our belief that there are still good people out there. We will, no doubt, see you next year at the fair and we will be keeping an eye out for each other’s animals as we all need to stick together in a world that isn’t as easy to live in as it used to be.

Kathy, Katy, Sam and Bill Smith

Chilmark

CLOSE CALL>

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

A nightmarish experience nearly happened to me on your magnificent Island, which my family and I have visited every few years for decades. On August 1 at about 12:18 p.m. I rode on the beautiful bike path between Edgartown and Oak Bluffs with my husband, daughter and her friend. We had reached the end of the bike path. When I was about a minute away from the Oak Bluffs ferry terminal, right next to the parked cars, I was straddling my bike, about to dismount entirely and walk. All of a sudden I heard my daughter’s friend scream and I saw that I was in the path of a VTA bus! I managed to move about two steps when I realized that I was again about to get hit and moved over a little bit more. My daughter, who was across the street, as well as her friend, told me that the bus missed me by an inch or two. Someone else on the Island that I spoke with told me that she also had narrowly escaped being hit by a bus recently in a different area of the Island.

When I called the bus company the day after the incident, I was told that someone would speak to the drivers on this particular route and caution them to be more careful. I hope they’re successful. A tragedy was averted only because I moved quickly. Clearly, the driver never saw me, and this is inexcusable. I hope something is done, because I want to live to come back to the Vineyard for many more years! I consider it my second home.

Jill Rifkin

Delmar, N.Y.

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AGITATION

Editors, Vineyard gazette:

Regarding the Gazette story of August 25:

Julian Bond seems comfortable with the demographics as waves of illegal immigrants drain our depleted state and federal treasuries and make African Americans an even smaller demographic. So be it!

I agree with Mr. Bond that the country is far from a post-racial position as he, like Gov. David Patterson of New York, raises the issue of race when it involves criticism of President Obama’s agenda. Surely President Clinton, and especially President Bush took their share of bashing from both the media and citizens, including African Americans.

I was taken with Mr. Bond’s advice to organize and “agitate, agitate, agitate.” (The opposition to President Obama’s far-left agenda is quickly learning to organize and “agitate” wisely, including use of Saul Alinsky and community organizer Obama tactics.) I went right to the telephone and Internet to agitate against President Obama’s explosive deficits, cap and trade, one payer healthcare, czars, expansion of war in Afghanistan and the White House “fishy” list.

What of President Obama’s call for his civilian army, just as strong, just as well-trained and just as well-armed as the U.S. military (aka Acorn?, Americorps?). Not in my country!

As more Americans learn about President Obama’s abuse of power, and the overwhelming deficit and unemployment numbers rise, dissent and “agitation” will only grow stronger.

Lorraine Michel

Edgartown

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USELESS BEACH PATROL

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

Perhaps someone can explain to me why, exactly, Moshup Beach requires a police presence. Over the course of the summer, I regularly see an officer on an all-terrain vehicle cruising up and down the beach, occasionally pausing to answer a question, but never actually enforcing any laws. Clay-bathers, unleashed dogs (on a beach that allegedly doesn’t permit any dogs) and even cliff-climbers pass without comment — never mind a sharp word or a ticket. Other than ogling, for which there is no shortage of volunteers, what exactly is the officer doing? He always turns around long before getting to the part of the beach where the weirdos lurk. And I’ve seen him drive past litter without picking it up or chastising the people who dropped it. So what gives?

If he really has nothing more important to do, then I suggest firing him and using his salary to send some deserving local to MIT. Or provide all town residents with a free dental checkup. Or get the VTA to run late-night buses up to the lighthouse, even at a loss, year-round. Bring it up at the next town meeting: what would you do with an extra 40,000 beans?

And if he does have more important work to do, maybe he should get busy doing it.

Maia Smith

Aquinnah

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CHAPPY PATH

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

The following letter was sent to the Edgartown selectmen:

Clearly we have many well-meaning and influential folks here on Chappy that have different opinions on this issue. I’ve been told that through the weight of their opinion and influence, some of these good citizens have actually been able to prevent paving of a section of a Massachusetts State Highway. (I refer to the unpaved section of ending at Wasque Reservation). Living with the airborne dust that goes with living on a dirt road, I don’t agree, as some do, that living on a dirt road is quaint; however, I do share their legitimate concern that Chappy should not be torn up to accommodate a bike path like those on the main Island. However, there is a compromise plan that would provide bikers and walkers separation from vehicle traffic that meets safety demands and should be acceptable to reasonable people — the moderates on both sides of this contentious issue. Please consider this minimally invasive solution that has proven successful in many urban environments — even with heavy city traffic.

The current right of way for the state road is 50 feet wide. The current road uses only about 20 feet, much less than half of that public right of way. My proposal is to simply pave a reasonable, acceptably wide strip to the existing current roadway and separate it by a painted double yellow line. Some large cities with heavy traffic volumes have only a two-foot wide bike path, separated by yellow lines along the curb; yet it serves to provide a very effective safety corridor to protect urban bikers against a large volume of fast-moving traffic. Chappy conditions are much more user friendly, with the availability of a 30-foot right of way for a reasonably-sized, say eight to ten-foot wide bike path. And the presence of the lower volumes of slower traffic needing to be accommodated would seem to make this a reasonable compromise worthy of favorable consideration. Hopefully, it would be found by all concerned, not perfect but acceptable.

I support and earnestly hope for a bike and walking path for the safety of our kids and grandchildren.

Ed Trider

Chappaquiddick

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LOOKING FOR AMARALS

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

I am the daughter of Catherine Amaral and granddaughter of William Amaral. I’m looking for the descendants of my grandfather and his siblings, Clemen (Doc), Joseph, Augustus, Benjamin, and Annie Amaral to join me and other family members at the P.A. Club on Saturday, Sept. 19 from noon to 6 p.m. I’m hoping to have a long overdue Amaral family reunion with as many of you as I can get together in one place.

Please bring stories, memories, pictures, a family tree if you’ve got one or the time to make one, and food to share. I hope this will be a fun-filled family event for children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren to experience. Our family has a long history on the Vineyard and I would like to help pass this history down to the younger generations.

This may seem impersonal but because there are so many of us spread near and far, this is my best bet to reach all of you. If you have any questions please e-mail me at tammydeese@hotmail.com.

Tammy Deese

Oak Bluffs

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ANOTHER CHILMARK

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

I was just reading an article concerning a prerevolutionary house due for possible demolition, the Tilton-Weckman property. If you’d care to look at the following link, cornercottage.googlepages.com/, you’ll see what we have to go through when we buy a “listed” property in the U.K. Very strict government rules cover what may be done to certain historical buildings. This cottage was purchased in February and will take us until at least May 2010 to rebuild and extend. Even the tree in the garden is protected!

Tony Harrison

Chilmark, England

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THANKS TO NEIGHBORS

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all the Island subcontractors, vendors and neighbors of Blue Heron Farm who, without a second thought, made themselves available 24/7, graciously endured all the security demands, and without being asked quietly put forward an extra effort to make the Obamas’ vacation a great success. You made our job easy and we thank you.

Kathy Holliday and Jeff Carlson

Edgartown

Ms. Holliday and Mr. Carlson are the property managers for Blue Heron Farm.

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NO NEWS, JUST RUMORS

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

President Obama’s visit to the Vineyard spurred a rash of rumors. Here are some that have not yet been reported:

• Nation’s capital to be moved to Martha’s Vineyard.

• John Alley to replace Joe Biden as President Obama’s 2012 running mate.

• President Obama to rename Martha’s Vineyard as Michelle’s Vineyard.

• 2012 Democratic National Convention to be held on Martha’s Vineyard.

• 2012 Republican National Conventional to be held on Nantucket.

• Runway at Martha’s Vineyard Airport to be enlarged to accommodate Air Force One.

• GITMO to be moved to Noman’s Land.

• The Black Dog now known as The Portuguese Water Dog.

• Congress to meet at the Tabernacle.

• Water street will be renamed Embassy Row.

• U.S. Naval Academy to be moved from Annapolis to Edgartown.

• Aquinnah to be renamed Gay Head.

• Menemsha Pond to be dredged to accommodate Presidential yacht.

• President Obama to add his name to the Chilmark mooring permit waiting list for Presidential yacht.

• Larry David to be named special assistant to the President.

• Cell phone service to be available up-Island.

Charles Pinck

Washington, D.C.

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JUST POTUS

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

Regarding the story titled “Notes from the Press Pool,” on Friday, August 28: the article says Potus is “the acronym favored throughout the reports that stands for President of the United States. (The female version is Flotus.)”

The female version of Potus is Potus.

Celeste Peterson

Chilmark

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UNCALLED FOR

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

The issue of August 21 seems to me to be uncalled for and eminently puerile.

You are either making the President out to be a half-baked movie star, or a full-fledged toy. I am sure he is just looking for a real vacation, and not some slavering adulation, which he will certainly get, willy-nilly.

And how dare you speak for the Vineyard in its entirety?

It would have been better simply to report the news, and to leave our forward-looking and hard-working President alone, to visit our wonderful Island on his own, and at his and his family’s leisure.

Donald R. Hart Jr.

Salisbury, Conn.,

and Vineyard Haven

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PROUD PEACOCK

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

During the recent fall and winter we were visited almost daily by a pair of peacocks — one white and one blue. Clearly they came for the nibbles we provided for them, but they often lingered and peered into the sliding glass deck door.

And then came Obama’s inauguration day. The blue peacock could see the television set and seemed to watch carefully. At the very moment that President Obama put his hand on the Bible to take the official oath of office, the peacock spread his tail into an exquisite full fan and did a bit of a dance. He had never done this dance routine before. It was quite beautiful and made us wish that we had a movie camera. Nature!

Mary Lu Keep

West Tisbury

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LAST INNING

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

It’s true — the last games of the softball season in Chilmark will be played this Sunday, Sept. 6 at 8:30 a.m. After the double-header, there will be a barbecue with hot dogs and watermelon, to be sure. Who will win the coveted most valuable player award? You’ll have to come to Flanders Field to find out. I can’t wait until next year.

Bill Edison

Menemsha

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MEAN-SPIRITED

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

Along with the First Family’s entourage of family and friends and the Secret Service retinue the Island also played host to hordes of national media types (over 50 I’m told) last week. While I’m sure many nice stories and video clips were generated by this “invasion,” certain pieces seem to have been generated simply because there was so little to report concerning the presidential visit itself.

One such article surfaced in the Wall Street Journal on August 29, written by Elizabeth Williamson and headlined: “Newspaper War Disturbs the Peace in Summer Haven.” Not only was the theme of this article concocted to create waves here, where there are really only small ripples, but each newspaper got sucked into responding to the author’s inflammatory queries.

I personally like Doug Cabral and was instrumental in convincing him to move back to the Vineyard in the mid 1980s to take the reins at The Martha’s Vineyard Times when it was floundering. He has done a nice job in staking out his market and running a successful enterprise. But unless his quotes were taken out of context, I think it’s highly unprofessional to call the Gazette staff a “bunch of sad souls, and we are eating their lunch.” That would be akin to my putting down my photographic colleagues, perhaps claiming that my pictures were much clearer, artful and memorable. Not only would that be untrue, but such comments belie the nature of what living here is all about: all for one and one for all.

The MV Times and Gazette each have their own readers and fans, and the battle lines have been clearly drawn for many years — the former being more right-wing, pro-business, blue-collar and aimed at the workaday year-round population. The latter is more artful, upscale, left-wing and ecologically oriented. Both papers have their place on our treasured Island. I read them both avidly, and am always grateful that at least two sides of our weekly comings and goings are presented. Friendly competition historically inspires a better product. It would be truly sad were the Vineyard reduced to only one paper which would monopolize this complex and multifaceted community.

The mean-spirited, sniping feel to the Wall Street Journal article was both irresponsible and unwarranted. I wish that they, and other media outlets, could have concentrated on more pressing and relevant issues such as affordable housing, Island health care and the pollution of our natural resources.

Peter Simon

Chilmark

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THOUGHTS FROM ABROAD

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

As a regular visitor to the land beyond the sea beyond the land I have to admit to being in something of a quandry . . .

Having fallen more than a little in love with your beautiful Island more than 16 years ago I find myself torn, dear reader. Torn between my gnawing need, (yes need!) to alight upon your wondrous shores once again and my irritation at your country’s inclination to treat all visitors as potential terrorists. It rankles and it hurts.

To me, and here my eyes are growing moist, there is no greater joyous experience than that of plowing full steam ahead across a choppy Sound aboard the MV Island Home, coffee and mustard-smothered hot dog in hand, toward an expectant Vineyard Haven.

Here at home in Edinburgh, the festival is limping wearily and thankfully toward an end until next year; the fireworks are over, the days are getting shorter and the nights are drawing in. Soon the locals will be donning their jackets and it is only a matter of days until the woolly hats and scarves make their appearance on Princes Street. Autumn, (or fall), my favorite time of year is fast approaching. For me, nothing can compete with an early morning stroll to Alley’s for breakfast on the porch accompanied by blazing foliage and the lingering warmth of summer on my face. It is, truly, the stuff of dreams.

Still, here I sit in a cosy Polish cafe yearning for the Vineyard and the view over Lake Tashmoo from the house. Another year has passed and I am beginning to get twitchy!

Spring will surely see me back, when I will grit my teeth and smile convincingly through immigration control. I will wander your flower-filled lanes once again feeling the familiar waves of contentment washing over me.

Keep my place warm; see you soon.

Valerie Gould

Edinburgh, Scotland.