Derby Loses Its Stripes
From Gazette editions of May, 1985:
In a sudden and dramatic shift of position, the Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby dropped the threatened striper out of the fall tournament. This puts to rest a running controversy that has plagued the derby for the last two years. After months of heated debate within the derby committee, the decision also follows a recent public letter from Leo Convery, president of the Island chamber of commerce, in which he defended the tournament catch of striped bass and blasted the Vineyard Gazette for its coverage of the controversy. The formal statement declared: “The Derby committee and the Chamber of Commerce wish to re-emphasize their support for the recreational fishermen who fish for striped bass under the current conservation regulations set forth by the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries. However, because the inclusion of striped bass has placed our sponsors in a difficult position, we have agreed to delete the striped bass from the 1985 Derby.”
A growing number of national sponsors announced they were withdrawing their support so long as the imperiled striped bass was kept in the competition. The first was Salt Water Sportsman, a nationally recognized magazine which has promoted the derby for years. In the weeks that followed, Joseph Lawler 3rd, president of Boston Whaler, held open the possibility of withdrawing his company’s key sponsorship. Last week Daiwa, Shakespeare and Zebco, three major manufacturers of fishing tackle and rods and reels, withdrew support.
The Gay Head Indian land claim settlement triggered one of the most unruly and acrimonious annual town meetings in memory before residents Tuesday night voted to reconfirm the agreement approved in November 1983. At times the four and a half hour meeting at the Gay Head town hall was swamped in outbursts of shouting and emotional attacks against the town moderator for “Hitler” tactics. The vote on the warrant article was required by the state law covering home rule petitions.
The debate was punctuated by shouts and accusations. The moderator was interrupted repeatedly when a small group opposing the settlement collided with supporters of the agreement. Town moderator Walter Delaney banged the podium with his gavel, but his efforts to bring the meeting to order were often in vain. “This is a Hitler society we live under in this town,” Barbara Gentry shouted. “Hitler, Hitler, Hitler!” she cried at Mr. Delaney. “All in favor . . .” Mr. Delaney began. “Heil, Hitler!” the voice rang out. “I find this really interesting,” said Joan Gentry Patadal, “that we’re being asked to vote on an article that pushes us into extinction.”
After the debate, the final vote to back the settlement carried by a more than four-to-one margin.
U.S. Postal Service officials plan to pack up the post office on Main street in Edgartown, move to the Triangle mall within two years and leave no substation downtown. Some patrons and citizens worry about the elderly and foot travelers. Some see the move as a loss of a vital town institution, while others think it will relieve traffic congestion and ease the burden on postal service employees. The postal service plans to get started in about a month and is soliciting public comment. What it hasn’t done yet is formally notify Brandon Harrison, owner of the Edgartown Market, which houses the post office.
An announcement from New Haven reminded us of a colony of Vineyarders who have spent much time on the Island and cared deeply for the community. A. Bartlett Giamatti of Edgartown and New Haven announced he will leave his position as president of Yale University. Mr. Giamatti is but one of many distinguished university presidents with long association with the Vineyard. Most are seasonal residents; several are permanent year-round citizens.
Mr. Giamatti’s two predecessors at Yale are Vineyarders, the late A. Whitney Griswold of Lambert’s Cove and Kingman Brewster, now of Vineyard Haven and London. Other names that come to mind are Paul Anderson of Temple University, Vernon Alden of Ohio University and Dr. Everett Case of Colgate. Dr. Thomas Mendenhall, long the president of Smith College, is a resident of North Tisbury and president of the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital.
It was not long ago that Mr. Giamatti, an avid Red Sox fan and leading scholar, wrote a brilliant essay about evolving Island societies. He worried about frictions among distinctly defined classes. And he feared the decline of the Vineyard from one phase of social development to a lesser, more troublesome level. We wish President Giamatti good fortune in retirement and hope that in his loss of Yale, he may gain from more time spent with us on the Vineyard.
Compiled by Cynthia Meisner
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