Opinion
Note: The Heath Hen, once a plentiful bird throughout New England, was last seen by James Green in West Tisbury on March 11, 1932.
The Ballad Of Boomin’ Ben
(The Tragic Tale of the Last Heath Hen)
I looked for my lady,
hoped she was near
playing “hard-to-get” games
in the Spring of that year.
I searched and I searched
under brush, by the sea;
LONDON — The newspaper industry is ailing; but I do not think that newspapers will altogether die.
— Tom Driberg, one of Fleet Street’s premier
journalists, is also a Member of Parliament.
In February, 2006, while traveling from Australia to the United States, one of my children became ill with a chest infection. Upon arrival here, my wife took her to the Martha’s Vineyard hospital.
Some hours and $600 later, they emerged with a prescription for antibiotics.
Worthwhile Cause
Editors, Vineyard Gazette:
On April 14, at Tisbury town meeting, you will be asked once again to vote on whether or not to place the issue of allowing full service restaurants containing at least 30 seats to sell beer and wine on the ballot in 2010.
Spring Fever
From Gazette editions of April, 1959:
COUNTING TURBINES
Editors, Vineyard Gazette:
How many wind turbines for Martha’s Vineyard?
Electricity is measured in kilowatt hours. One kilo equals 1,000. One 50-watt light bulb left on for 20 hours consumes one kilowatt hour of electricity (50 watts x 20 hours = 1,000 watt-hours = 1 kilowatt-hour).