When the Twin Towers fell to a bunch of Saudi Arabian terrorists piloting American passenger planes, our Republican administration, with the wisdom of a crazed hawk, decided to attack Iraq (not Saudi Arabia). Isn’t that like: you’re sitting at the a friendly bar and the guy to the right pours beer on your head, so you smile at him . . . then punch the guy to your left in the nose, blaming him for laughing (and having an imaginary gun in his pocket).

Driving over the bridge between North Tisbury and West Tisbury village, I keep thinking of the olden days when all vehicles, whether gasoline or horse driven, simply forded Mill Brook. Those were the days! But we must travel fast and don’t have the time (and luxury?) of the old-fashioned pleasure of fording, to say nothing of the damage it would inflict on our low-slung modern cars.

The Friends of Sengekontacket (FOS), a nonprofit dedicated to preserving Sengekontacket Pond and the barrier beach, wish to thank both the Edgartown and Oak Bluffs selectmen for giving us and the joint committee for Sengekontacket the opportunity to present a summary of the Massachusetts Estuaries report for Sengekontacket.

In October 2012 the United States faces economic collapse and radical religious attacks. Instead of a cooperative search by all our best minds to find the wisest solutions, we have an election, with partisan politicians contending for power. In a political battle as in war, “truth is the first casualty.” It would help voters if we could watch non-partisan TV news channels, but we have only Fox and what it calls the “mainstream” — everyone else.

We may still believe we live in a democracy. We may still believe that the people we elect are chosen democratically. Most of us still have the right to vote. But money is buying this election.

The call went out, there’s been a sighting,

A world class bird, her name, Soo Whiting.

From near and far, like a grand migration,

Friends flocked together in celebration.

To honor a friend who’s tried and true,

And shares with all a world-wide view.

She’s winged about for seventy years,

And earned respect from all her peers.

From Gazette’s “Bird News” and “All Outdoors”,

To partners with Flip in Osprey Tours.

Birding the Vineyard ? Where to turn to?