Opinion
The members of Dukes County are being denied medical coverage on the Island of Martha’s Vineyard due to an oversight of MassHealth politicians.
Once again, I’ve been reminded how lucky we are to live in such a caring and compassionate place. After suffering a bad fall at my Chilmark home, a 911 call brought the police and wonderful Tri Town EMTs to my rescue.
Nature seems to whisper during a snowstorm as a blanketing hush falls over the land, sky and sea.
Today, the national poverty rate is just under fifteen per cent, but with an increase in population there are over ten million more people in poverty than there were in 1964.
Traveling to Martha’s Vineyard in the 1930s one had to go to New Bedford where The New England Steamship Company provided ferry service. The trip to the Vineyard cost $1 and took two hours. Taking a car cost $5 to $8. A trip to Nantucket cost $2.20 and took about four hours. To fly to the Vineyard, summers only, the flight from New Bedford to the Vineyard cost $5.50. Sightseeing busses were available in both ports, and “hard surfaced roads encircled [the] islands.”
On September 14, 1778 British Major-General Grey left Vineyard Haven after raiding the area.
From the Vineyard Gazette edition of Jan. 5, 1940:
It was New Year’s Eve, and Vineyard Haven slept or celebrated according to time-honored practice. All was still and peaceful out of doors, beneath the dark winter sky. Not a breath of wind stirred and little traffic moved along the snow-covered streets. Suddenly a strange, thrilling sound filled the air. Starting at a low pitch at first, it grew louder and more thrilling. Young men, bailing out a noggin of lemonade, leaped into the air and cracked their heels together.