Paris and the Vineyard have something in common. In a recent New York Times international edition article, the headline in large bold type read: “Paris Wants Smokers to Kick a Bad Habit: Tossing Butts in the Street.” The story went on to say “A stroll through parts of Paris on weekend mornings is a little like walking in an ashtray.” Paris now plans to install 10,000 so-called snuffers by the end of the year with more to follow.

I am a seasonal resident of West Chop and a rest-of-the-year resident of Manhattan. Each day on Martha’s Vineyard I bike the 20-mile loop from West Chop through the state forest near the airport and back. Until a few years ago, there was always the welcome stop at Max and Emma’s Honor Lemonade stand shortly after the youth hostel. Max and Emma have gone on to brighter and bigger doings. They were replaced by the enticing Alex’s Umbrella Water stand.

This letter goes out to the wonderful people who were on the Great Rock Bight beach on August 13. My husband and I are extremely lucky to have had such brave and caring people around us on that day. Greg, Wendy, Hans, Isabella, the family who gave us the life vests, the young lady who swam them out to my husband (I’m sorry I never had a chance to thank you in person) and the men who pitched in to help my husband off the beach.

Given the controversy over the Zoia property on Quitsa Pond, it was to be expected that Ken Iscol and others would write letters taking strong exception to architect David Handlin’s op-ed article of August 10. What was not to be expected were the sharp and wholly unsubstantiated attacks on Mr. Handlin that were made in most of the letters.

We would like to take an opportunity to publicly thank the two Edgartown police officers who kindly procured a taxi for us last Saturday evening (the last night of our wonderful Vineyard vacation!) after an Adam Cab refused to take us home. The officers were helping to control the many cars and people congregating near the Atlantic Club and Dock street taxi stand.

With all due respect for the journalist who covered the selectmen and taxpayer meeting in Aquinnah, her intentions were right but her quote for my intervention was not correct.