Commentary
They came in out of the chill of a cool autumn night for the fellowship that can surround a hot meal. The Barnacle Club is the oldest running waterfront club on the Island, and its name always inspires interest. A barnacle by definition is a creature that doesn’t move a lot.
The club is made up of men who have a love for the sea and a gift for sharing their experiences on the water. Since the 1800s, the club has existed with two simple rules: no booze and no women.
The Island community has been watching with interest the dialogue between a veteran teacher credentialed by the state to be considered eligible for a position of assistant principal or principal and the public school administration. It would appear that the issue is one of “fit” on the part of administration rather than one of legally required academic credentials.
I am a lawyer, former prosecutor (assistant state attorney general, 1982-1986), and a member of a drug reform organization called Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP).
Responsible citizens should be appalled by the news from Mexico about the near 30,000 homicides committed by the drug cartels in the past three years.
People on the Cape and Islands might ask if this is our problem. Do we share the blame? Is there anything we can do about it?
The following was sent to President Obama.
Dear Mr. President,
MISLEADING
Editors, Vineyard Gazette:
In response to the advertisement announcing the endorsement of Neal Maciel for sheriff by the Massachusetts Correction Officers Federated Union representing the union workers of the Dukes County sheriff’s department, in the Oct. 21 issue of the Martha’s Vineyard Times, I would like to take this opportunity to clarify who this organization represents in the Dukes County sheriff’s office.
Gifts from the Sea
From a 1961 Gazette edition:
It was quite recently that the conversation among a group of representative men was pertaining to the valuation of real estate for taxation purposes. One man in the group said: “The biggest part of the houses in the town of ________ were built of lumber picked up on the beaches.”