Opinion
For Valentine’s Day, an essay about love and something more, first published in the Gazette in February, 2011.
Land Bank Position
Editors, Vineyard Gazette:
The following letter was sent to the Edgartown selectmen from the Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank.
I am writing regarding the mini-park on Main street. You had asked the land bank to consider contributing to its acquisition.
The land bank commission has now discussed this matter several times in the past few weeks and has determined that it does not support land bank involvement here. The central reason is financial. Allow me please to explain.
CALL FOR CANDIDATES
Editors, Vineyard Gazette:
A functioning democracy requires the participation of its citizens.
That is something which we in the United States take for granted.
But the reality is that very few people actually take the time and trouble to take part in their local political processes, leaving decisions that affect them to be made by the very few activists.
By participation, I don’t just mean speaking up at annual town meeting.
Divided Past
From Gazette editions of February, 1986:
When the Edgartown selectmen proposed a subdivision moratorium last week, they were unaware that just one night earlier the West Tisbury selectmen and members of the planning board had proposed the same thing for their town. It was pure coincidence.
Up-Island School Values
The cost of operating the Chilmark School is on the table for discussion again — this time in West Tisbury, which will carry the heaviest burden this year for the up-Island Regional School District budget.
The added cost burden can be tracked to increased enrollment of West Tisbury students in the Chilmark School. The two schools serve the three up-Island towns of Aquinnah, Chilmark and West Tisbury, which are all members of the regional school district.
Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I’m 64?
Those iconic words have rattled around in the back of my head for more than four decades. It never crossed my mind I would someday reach that milestone. Sixty-four! Why that borders on the upper end of middle age, for goodness sake. But here I am, ready to face the music, so to speak.