MONSTER SPECTACLE

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

Public spectacles like the annual monster shark tournament have much in common with the gladiator games conducted in the Coliseum during ancient Roman festivals. Large, adoring crowds immersed in a circuslike atmosphere amid unbridled commercial activity, awaiting the extravaganza of torture, execution and the eventual display of victims.

OZZIE FISCHER MEMORIES

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

The following are comments from the Gazette Web site on the obituary for Albert O. (Ozzie) Fischer Jr.

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Mr. Fischer’s spirit will always flow throughout the Vineyard, without doubt. Through his hard work over his entire life, his graceful touch is indelible.

Catherine Burns

Seal Beach, Calif.

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LISA’S ORDEAL

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

I would love to talk about how Lisa Scannell, known to many as Lisa Ben David, is a dedicated member of the Martha’s Vineyard equine community, about how her passion and discipline is contagious, or how her knowledge of all things horse related is never ending. But none of this is news to anyone. Anyone who knows Lisa knows that’s she is a strong, driven individual who never cuts her students any slack in training them to be the best horse people that they can be.

WATER’S FINE

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

So I hear the waters that I have gone swimming in every summer since I was an infant (Truman was president) are deemed “maybe polluted.” Ho hum. Not the first in a long line of indignities visited upon what I revere as the Galilee of bathing beaches. Here is a timeline of sorts:

MONUMENTAL MOVE

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

Our selectmen have voted to move the little-known war memorial from its somewhat obscure site at the triangle across from Whiting’s Pond to the town hall. I feel this is such a great idea I have volunteered my time and equipment to make the move.

EGREGIOUS ERROR

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

Stunned! Heartbroken! Furious! These are but three of the emotions I was feeling after reading about the rejection of the Island’s application to the state for federal funds to assist members of our community because of a clerical error. That is $2 million lost.