Opinion
In 1958, on the 10th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Eleanor Roosevelt rhetorically asked the question:
Childhood obesity is one of the nation’s fastest growing problems. At this point in time, almost one out of every three young Americans is overweight. The rate of childhood obesity has tripled over the past three years. In order to have a healthy America in the future, we must start with the youth and teach them good practices. The first obstacle to overcome is children’s eating habits and the food provided to them. The second is the lack of exercise among young Americans.
Neither surf nor turf, land or sea, salt marshes are a spongy, mucky, stinky in-between zone full of biting, stinging, snapping creatures. Yet they are stunning to the eye — think Poucha Pond, Mattakesett Bay, Nashaquitsa Pond. And more importantly they are one of the most productive ecosystems on earth.
Salt marshes — our local coastal wetlands — provide recreation, jobs, human health and safety protections, and an incredible array of environmental benefits.
House bill 254 is not constitutional and if up held would set a dangerous precedent, potentially affecting all waterfront landowners.
I moved to the Vineyard in 1966 and have been passionate about fishing from the beaches for more than 35 years. Over the years, I have seen many changes on the Island and have been especially affected by the loss of access to too many of these beaches.
When you’re a kid and are near water and see a stone, you skip it. Maybe you are lucky one day and you find a slate mountain. To a kid it seems to be a mountain, but it is a pretty big hill — or maybe it’s just a piece of a hill. You are on a path in a woods, it’s hilly terrain with lots of rocks and boulders jutting out into your way. The path winds around, slippery in places, for there are some tiny waterfalls here and there, and they make everything damp. You are 10, maybe 11 years old.