Slow Vineyard

WHAT’S NEXT?

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

At last the garage monstrosity will come down, but what will rise in its place? My off-Island neighborhood has been plagued with gigantic homes that are built right up to the property lines, crowding the smaller original houses.

Over the last five years, Mr. Moujabber has been granted the opportunity to wring out every last ounce of his rights — I hope the next round of deliberations will focus more on the rights of his neighbors.

Chip Coblyn

On Thursday, July 17, my wife Wendy lost her battle with brain cancer. It has been the most amazing fight I have ever seen. She went at it with a smile and determination, knowing full well it was an uphill battle all the way. Her strength and courage were inspiring and unmatched.

In the Forest

From the Vineyard Gazette editions of July, 1933:

Capt. A. S. Knight, commanding officer of the Civilian Conservation Corps on the Vineyard, has received orders permitting the enlistment of fifteen local men for service with the 106th company, the company at present on the state forest on the great plain. This will bring the company to about 200 men, the strength allotted to the camp by the government.

Barack Obama has been sprint ing so rapidly to the center that we need binoculars to find progressive ideas in the 2008 election.

So I was open to Looking Back From 2101 (Xlibris) by Steve Halpern. Based on Edward Bellamy’s 1887 novel Looking Backward: From 2000 to 1887, the Halpern book imagines a Philadelphia factory worker awakened from a 104-year trance to discover a socialist utopia in 2101.

Today there are many negative stereotypes of teenagers about how we are so lazy, we don’t think of anyone but ourselves, and we are so self-centered. I believe that this is completely false, and in fact the complete opposite is true. Teenagers do more community service than any other age group. Almost all of my friends do some type of community service. There are many opportunities for us to give back to the community with programs such as the boys and girls club, youth coaching, charities, fund-raisers and walks.

People wonder why teenagers don’t get more involved in community service, but they don’t know our struggle. Nowadays, teenagers have school, sports, clubs, Minnesingers and work. Some teenagers do not have the time for community service. But there are many opportunities for teenagers. Teenagers just need to look a little more carefully in the community for the right place for them.

Savor the moment, she said; it was her favorite phrase. Della Brown Hardman, the distinguished artist, educator and volunteer died in December of 2005. And now each year the last Saturday in July is set aside in the town of Oak Bluffs as a day to remember her. The fourth annual Della Hardman Day is tomorrow and a series of events are planned to celebrate the arts, as Della did so beautifully in her own life.

Community service is an admirable endeavor as it allows you to work for something you believe in and give back to the community. By participating in community service, you can feel connected to your community. While some students at Marta’s Vineyard Regional High School do community service because it looks good on a college transcript or meets a requirement, other students intrinsically want to help their community. Regardless of their motive, many students at the high school are often confused as to how they can actually get involved and what types of things they can do.

Board President Responds

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

Last Monday, July 14 the board of directors of the Martha’s Vineyard Boys’ and Girls’ Club decided, after considerable deliberation, to dismiss the employees of our Second Hand Store and close the store temporarily pending reorganization and re-staffing. Since the store is an important fixture on the Island and our action has evoked a storm of discussion, we feel we owe the community some explanation.