Opinion
This is out of the world, but this is America: this is our country. Picture an Island of triangular shape, a hundred miles in area, lying seven miles off the southeast coast of Massachusetts; an Island which is all things to men. This is Martha’s Vineyard, described as a place of old towns, new cottages, high cliffs, white sails, green fairway, salt water, wildfowl, and the steady pull of an ocean breeze.
I enjoyed the story by Cooper Davis that appeared in the Gazette on Dec. 5 titled “Naturalist Rose Treat on the Art of Living at 100.” I have come to know Rose over the last few years and have made time to visit with her for an occasional lunch. My visits are always rewarded with a new story as well as familiar tales illustrating her remarkable life.
This year has been all about change. Change is happening in the United States, from the price of gas to the election of Barack Obama. Change is affecting Americans in both positive and negative ways. Even though our New Year’s resolutions last year included change in America, we all can’t help but worry about how 2009 is going to work out. When Barack Obama was elected, many Americans were excited. They believe Obama is what this country needs. But let’s not put all the pressure on Obama. If we as a country want change, we have to all be willing to work for it.
Shellfish and the human species have a long affiliation. For the most part, it has been an unequal relationship with the shellfish providing sustenance, health benefits and ecological services and in return receiving human abuse through over-consumption, over-harvesting and destruction of their habitats. On the positive side, we humans have exalted shellfish in our art and culture and when necessary have implemented restoration efforts if only to maintain shellfish populations for our own well-being.
Headline Makers
Good news is in awfully short supply these days, as a scan of any daily newspaper confirms. People are starting to wonder — is there anything left but bad news?
To that end we perused the Gazette over the last year looking for good news, and happily found plenty of it. And so what follows is a sampler of good cheer to end the old year.
Pasque for Sale
From the Gazette editions of December, 1933: