Harbored View
Chris Perry

With the Film Festival starting up this week, I thought I would get into the mood and “review” a number of issues around the island.

Granted, this is not the Chicago Sun-Times, and I’m no Ebert & Roeper. However, if you review the various events — issues — stories around Nantucket, it covers everything from sci-fi to romance to adventure, to comedy to horror to everything else in the middle.

So, roll the cameras and let’s start with an appropriate one...

The Dreamland Theater Expansion: It was great when Dave Fish worked the front door because you could “reserve” a seat with popcorn and a drink.

Time has come for improvements. The seats were great when I was a teenager; but let’s be honest, they are pretty tired now.

No matter what your age, it is still a gas going to the Dreamland Theater. Let’s hope a spiffed up atmosphere does not ruin the theater’s tradition of a raucous, Saturday night crowd in the summer.

• 2 Thumbs Up.

Taxi Rate Increase: The $1 increase in fares is justified. But everyone missed the taxi on this one. One of the issues that drove the rates higher was the high cost of gasoline on Nantucket. This problem was eloquently raised by my fellow columnist, Grant “Yackity-Yack” Sanders just a few weeks ago, and it was voiced loudly at the Selectmen’s meeting.

With the Board voting 4-0 to raise the fares one dollar, how about following through with the next logical step and investigating why the gas prices are so high. Until the BOS does that, the review is mixed.

• 1 Thumb Up and 1 Thumb Down.

Nat Lowell on the Planning Commission: There’s hope. This was a terrific appointment. Sound solutions such as bike lanes as well as bike paths where practical. Improvements to the island’s infrastructure versus limiting cars. Fresh blood from an island veteran was desperately needed. Watching future meetings when Nat gets going will be great theater. Pass the popcorn.

• 2 Thumbs Up.

Last Few Weeks of School: With some students already bringing their text books home. With the hurdle of MCAS’s now over. With CPS and high school exams completed within a couple days. With seniors already graduating and out surfing. Have you ever heard the expression: “Mailing It In?”

That’s basically what’s going on right now. I know the School Committee is busy traveling to New York and negotiating a contract for incoming deputy superintendent Pellicone, but how about keeping an eye on what isn’t going on right under their noses.

• 2 Thumbs Down.

Commercial Landfill Fee Hikes: In SSA style, landfill increases were not justified by an improvement in service. It simply brings back memories of a horrible deal negotiated by an earlier BOS which stuck Nantucket residents at the bottom of the trash bin.

If the only thing that gets Waste Options and the Town of Nantucket off their duffs to reconsider rate reductions is the proliferation of unlicensed sites for yard waste, then will somebody please redirect me off Madaket Road and to some obscure hole tucked off the beaten path so I can unload my grass clippings. The term “dump” never described a “landfill” better.

• 2 Thumbs down.

New Post Office: Another no-brainer, especially when it will incorporate other commercial property. Assuming all goes well, then it is possible for several local boards and committees to successfully work together and produce a sound new option. Increased parking. One stop shopping for banking and post office. Looks good on paper. Only time will tell “if you (U.S. Postal Service) build it, they (enough, competent employees) will come.” But, it’s a start.

• 2 Thumbs Up.

Miacomet Pond Opening to the Ocean: Is this the “human shovel” at work or is this mother nature taking her natural course? The irony here is that some people think bringing in a bulldozer and creating a sandy berm large enough to discourage both mother nature and any midnight diggers prowling for action on the south shore is actually a viable option. Isn’t that similar to what Gene Ratner did several years ago on Sheep Pond Road, and we are now in court over that?

What’s good for the goose appears to be illegal for the gander. Someone or something needs to come clean before intermission.

• 1 Thumb Up and 1 Thumb Down.

Town Committee Openings: It is not surprising to see the BOS extending the deadline for committee applications. This follows right in line with the island's nagging problem of not enough competent, experienced candidates running for office. As they say, there just are not enough qualified residents interested in being ridiculed, harassed and tormented like there used to be.

As mentioned earlier, it is refreshing to see Nat Lowell on board. But, when so many slots remain vacant and young, energetic people such as Aaron Marcavitch are questioning the ability to commit to Nantucket long term, the BOS needs to examine ways to attract more candidates or simply eliminate some of the committees in an attempt to streamline government.

• 1 Thumb Up and 1 Thumb Down.

Have fun this week. And as you watch all the new movies, remember the words of director Samuel Goldwyn when talking about acting: “The most important thing in acting is honesty. Once you’ve learned to fake that, you're in!”