Opinion
SCIENCE HIGH HONORS
Editors, Vineyard Gazette:
Congratulations to the entire eighth grade and Karl Nelson, their eighth grade science teacher, on bringing honor and distinction to the West Tisbury School.
The Boston Globe on Sept. 15 ranked West Tisbury School’s eighth grade as the highest performers in the entire state of Massachusetts on the MCAS science test.
The death of Sam Leighton certainly marks a sad moment for the people who grew up in Edgartown during his tenure as director of the boys’ and girls’ club, including myself. Sam’s influence helped so many to navigate those teenage years which can often be troubled times. Sam knew what it was like growing up here — long, harsh, winters that saw families struggle just to get by, followed by summers when both parents took maximum advantage of income opportunities, often working multiple jobs.
There are two programs on the Internet that most people of my generation do not generally use. Facebook and YouTube are used by the younger generations to cultivate friendship and inspire wonder. But because my three children and three granddaughters are all computer literate, I have been cajoled into using them both, occasionally. And sometimes they can provide surprise, delight and awe.
Do you have any idea what it feels like to be in Brazil during election time? Well, it’s pretty insane.
The following letter was sent to the Martha’s Vineyard Commission.
I am writing on behalf of the many, many Island residents and visitors who are familiar with the pure pleasure of wetting a line in the hopes of catching a fish, on behalf of every little kid who is fascinated by the ocean and its inhabitants and may develop a lifelong passion, and on behalf of every grandparent whose greatest enjoyment is spending what’s known as quality time with his or her grandchildren, especially in a teaching situation.
Profiles of Courage
They come looking for adventure, excitement, travel, challenge — the reasons that bring some fishermen to the Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby are the same reasons some soldiers give for joining the military. But for those men and women who have been at the adrenaline-drenched war front, it is a long and welcome way to the quiet waters of Martha’s Vineyard, where the battle is with the fish.