ON GREAT SALT POND

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

As members of the Great Pond Foundation board of directors and riparian owners, we’d like to thank Edmund Stevens for his letter of Sept. 2 making some cogent observations regarding the health of Edgartown Great Pond. We’d also like to address his concerns in print, since I assume there are others who share them.

From Vineyard Gazette September editions:

AUTHOR’S CORRECTION

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

In a piece I wrote that appeared in the Sept. 5 Gazette I said that Sarah Palin when a mayor in Alaska attempted to get the local librarian to ban certain books. That statement is fact. That the librarian refused is also fact. I erred, however, when I stated that Ms. Palin then had the reluctant librarian fired; she only tried to accomplish that dubious deed. She failed, thus casting some shadow on her vaunted ability to get things done.

Allan Manings

Edgartown

While the vestiges of hurricane Hanna whipped rain onto the Aquinnah Circle and sucked at the canvas tent covering Saturday’s annual youth powwow, inside spectators dropped bills on the grass for fancy dancer Savannah Maher, 13, from Mashpee.

Rarely using more than the balls of the feet inside her moccasins, champion dancer Savannah swung and hopped her way around the tent, sending blue and yellow ribbon work flying out from her tribal dress. Dots of make-up spread out symmetrically from each eye and a single scalp feather shot up above her fabric-adorned braids.

Remembering 9/11

A Time and Space To Be Together and Reflect on 9/11 with Silence, Words and Music will be held at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 11, at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Martha’s Vineyard.

This will be a time of reflection and of sharing of our remembrances, concerns and sorrows with Rev. Polly Leland-Mayer and with each other. Readings to share will be welcomed.

The Unitarian Universalist chapel is located at 238 Main street in Vineyard Haven. It is a welcoming congregation and is universally accessible.

The Bodhi Path Buddhist Center in West Tisbury, the place where many Islanders and visitors practice Buddhist meditation and philosophy, hosted a very special event on Sunday. ShaMar Rinpoche, founder of the center and the third highest lama of Tibet, presided over a traditional haircutting ceremony and the official recognition of two-year-old Karma Yeshe Dorje as a tulku.

A tulku is a reincarnated lama.

Junior Goats

General, over 2 years doe: 1. Thea Keene, 1. Adelaide Keene.

Junior Swine

General, Sow under 1 year: 1. Nathaniel W. Packer, 2. Charlotte Packer, 3. David Packer.

Junior Swine, General, Barrow under 1 year: 1. Nathaniel W. Packer, 2. Charlotte Packer, 3.David Packer.

Junior Swine, General, Barrow over 1 year: 1. Nathaniel W. Packer, 1. Charlotte Packer, 2. David Packer.

Junior Sheep, Pure Bred, Sheep: 1. Lucy Tompson, 1. Oscar Thompson.

Junior Sheep

It was the day tropical storm Hanna was supposed to hit and, as luck would have it, Michael Domitrovich was stuck inside with a chest cold. Despite the weather and the nagging cough, Mr. Domitrovich declared himself a lucky man.

Amherst Awards Degrees

The following students from the Vineyard received undergraduate degrees from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst this spring in commencement ceremonies held May 24 at the Warren P. McGuirk Alumni Stadium: Emma R. Lovewell of Edgartown, Kathryn M. Noonan of Edgartown, Catherine E. Scudere-Chapman of Edgartown, Patrick G. Coogan of Oak Bluffs, James A. Rebello of Oak Bluffs, Matthew G. Brown of Vineyard Haven and Brian P. Robinson of Vineyard Haven.

Getting a passport is no easy task. It takes two photo graphs, proof of United States citizenship, a valid form of photo identification, a $100 processing fee and then said passport will not arrive for up to four weeks.