Opinion
Christmas, as much as I love it, has in the last few years become shrouded in the dark, heavy, woolen garments of my childhood.
OUT OF BOUNDS
Editors, Vineyard Gazette:
As I sit at my kitchen table, working late, surrounded by quiet, darkened homes with sleeping residents, I am hearing popping sounds that are carrying on the wind from the not-so-distant distance for the second night in a row. If I didn’t know better, I would think that someone was shooting off fireworks. These are not the sounds of fireworks, but of firearms. It is hunting season on Martha’s Vineyard, and it is 12:39 a.m.
This week the sophomore class had the opportunity to walk the entire African American Heritage Trail, which is also a nonprofit organization. The trail provided students with much more knowledge about African American history here on the Vineyard. In our history II course we are taught a lot about African American history nationwide, but are not necessarily taught about it here at home. Students felt that the trail was inspirational; you will read some of their comments below.
When the Martha’s Vineyard Commission created a district of critical planning concern for the waters of the County of Dukes County, it offered a rare opportunity for the Islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Cuttyhunk to work together to preserve the unique attributes of their environment — I say “their” because this environment is truly theirs — shorelines and waters which are the most pristine and undeveloped of any for hundreds of miles in either direction.
Last week, a deal was struck that will push forward an eight-turbine offshore wind project near Block Island, R.I. That project has received strong support from the local island community. Two weeks ago, the residents of Cuttyhunk told state officials that they would be willing to host a wind farm within Massachusetts territorial waters. Several islands off the coast of Maine are also considering offshore wind turbines.
The Copenhagen climate summit has been much in the news for two weeks and the media is full of stories about rising carbon dioxide (C02) levels, increasing acidity of the oceans, drastic changes in weather patterns, the warmest decade on record, melting glaciers, rising sea water levels and coastal communities in imminent danger of inundation. And that’s just the tip of the melting iceberg!