FOUNDATION FACTS

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

Stealth Lawsuit

When they made a conscious decision to stay quiet about the lawsuit against Ralph Packer and Tisbury Towing and Transportation last October, senior managers at the Steamship Authority may have forgotten for a moment that they work for a public agency. They didn’t hide the lawsuit, but they also didn’t say anything about it.

The apparent rationale was that by keeping things quiet they could negotiate with Mr. Packer and reach a quick settlement.

Holy Real Estate

Many Island churches were founded, built and filled to the rafters more than a hundred years ago, when mainline religion held a central place in contemporary affairs. The prevailing culture on the Vineyard these days centers on real estate. More people are interested in the rock (or sand) on which the church was built than in the church message itself, it seems.

Ship to Shore

From Gazette editions of January, 1934:

Many who did not expect to be awake to see the New Year ushered in, were aroused from their slumber at a little before 12, midnight, with the blowing of whistles by steamers and tugs in Vineyard Haven harbor. A general “hustle out” of the old year 1907 and a “welcome in” to the newborn year 1908 took place.

Setting a New Agenda

At about this time last year the Cape Cod Times, our respected daily counterpart across the Sound, laid out an ambitious editorial agenda for the year ahead. It was well-written and thoughtful and the very idea of such a thing was at once impressive and daunting.

staying sober

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

We are writing in response to your recent story concerning a teacher in the West Tisbury school who allegedly provided alcohol to students and hosted parties where young people drank. We have no knowledge of the facts in this particular case but it seems clear that somewhere along the line alcohol was available and underage drinking occurred. The issue draws attention to the illegal use and abuse of alcohol by minors and their access to alcohol.