LETTERS
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KEEP RURAL ROADS UNPAVED

To the editor:

This letter is in response to Barry Rector's mention of his regret about the town not paving Millbrook Road.

As an abutter on Millbrook, I believe that there is value in keeping rural areas rural, and rural roads unpaved. I have reason also to believe that a large percentage of Millbrook Road residents feel the same way.

Many choose to live in these areas because they like them the way they are. Millbrook Road is a well-maintained road and if you haven't been there lately I suggest you take a ride out there, Mr. Rector.

- Suzanne Keller ABOUT THOSE ROAD PATCHES

To the editor:

I have read Mr. Brace's articles on Nantucket roads with a keen interest as I perform sewer, water, and utility installations also. These almost always involve a road cut, or reverse speed bump as Mr. Brace referred to them. Just a few things have been left out of his coverage of this issue.

The first thing that I have not noticed as coverage is the permit cost. This cost is charged to the contractor for the town to make the final road patch. That is correct, we pay the town to perform the patch. This is not done on large projects like that which went on at the rotary. They usually make the contractor repair large cuts like that project. Small utility cuts for a single house sewer or water connection are paid for ahead of time by the contractor. The town then puts the permanent patch in place.

The town also does not allow time for the ground to settle. They want all cuts done and repaired in one day. Sometimes they show up the very next day to put the permanent patch in place. No matter how well a job is compacted it will still have some settling after it is done. This is due to a term called the angle of repose. This is defined as, "The maximum slope or angle at which loose, cohesionless material remains stable," according to the Dictionary of "Geological Terms, 3rd Edition, American Geological Institute." In simple definition, for every foot you dig downward you must dig a foot outward at about a forty-five degree angle each side of the trench. Meaning a six-foot deep trench would end up being twelve feet wide at ground level. This is the area impacted by the trenching even if it is not dug up. The contractor can only compact vertically, with compaction vibrations loosening up the soil on the side of the trench. Hence, you will always have some settling issues. This holds true with or without a trench box being used. The trench box is for the safety of the men down in the hole. It has nothing to do with the back fill and compaction of the trench.

Compaction takes time and I do mean time. Properly compacting a sixteen-inch lift is not achieved in minutes. It is done with multiple passes of the compactor and that takes time. Further, some compactors are capable of compacting taller lifts of soil. Most walk-behind compactors can only do a foot of soil at a time. Some, though most do not have them, may be capable of the sixteen-inch lift that they are talking about. The one I use goes on the excavator and, according to the manufacturer, is capable of lifts ranging from two to four feet, depending on soil type. So, if a trench is compacted in sixteen-inch lifts, allowing a half an hour per lift over the length of the trench, a four foot deep trench may take an hour and a half to compact. That does not include time to put the lift of soil in the trench in an even sixteen-inch layer to be compacted. You do the math if it is, say, eight feet deep. It does not seem like a long time, but let's not forget that we must first dig out down to whatever we are connecting to and make our connection. Then we get an inspection from the town in the case of a sewer connection. Run the pipe far enough off the road to work safely. Then backfill and compaction can start. A temporary patch is installed for the evening. That is a lot to accomplish in one day with proper compaction being achieved in one day. This may be evidenced by the work done for Legion Hall on Washington Street. The contractor put down steel road plates instead of a temporary patch and compacting it. Nothing wrong with it; just another way of doing it.

Bottom line, most of the contractors do the absolute best they can in the one day that the town allows for most road cuts. You cannot achieve the compaction level of undisturbed soil in the time allotted. There will almost always be reverse speed bumps in the roads. Why all the complaining, when some are going to the selectmen to have the town install speed bumps to slow people down? Take this with the humor intended. We, due to time constraints imposed by the town, are installing them at no extra charge to anyone. I do like smooth roads and well-done utility cuts, just in case you were wondering.

Just my observations on the matter. So, I am not passing the buck, yet want the general public to know that some of the shoddy patches are not done by the contractors. You may hammer us for lack of compaction and I will pass that on to the town wanting roads open the same day. I do check up on my work and make sure that it seems smooth when driven over as I use the roads also. Thanks in advance for the space in the paper.

Sincerely,

- Buzz Polchinski Owner, Buzzsaw Construction A BROTHER'S TRIBUTE

To the editor:

Hats off to an extremely wonderful man, my brother, James Arthur (Jimmy) Duarte. He was loved and respected by all who knew him. His character, mannerisms, and well-being were outstanding. He will truly be missed by me, his lone surviving brother.

I can remember when he taught me how to play various sports, of which he played them all.

He also taught me how to play my first chord on the guitar. The hardest part in teaching me to play the guitar was the fact that I was left handed, but being Jimmy he told me to turn the guitar around and try it that way. Well - it worked, thanks to his patience, which was running low. Later after learning enough to play, I had the privilege to play with him in his band. What fun that was.

These were all good years and things to remember. I hadn't played with him for many years with being in the Air Force.

On August 26, 2006 I was rewarded - I mean truly rewarded - when he asked me to play with him for a Cape Verde event at the Whaling Museum. It was called " Porto Rican." We played Cape Verde music, his favorite music. Believe me I was so proud to be a part of it, especially with him, someone so special. It's a day I will never forget. It's on my P.C. in my favorite places so that I may cherish it for the rest of my life. My love will stay with him forever. May he rest in Peace.

- Paul Duarte

DUARTE FAMILY OFFERS THANKS

To the editor:

The James (Jimmy) Duarte family deeply appreciates the love and support of this wonderful community - Dr. Pearl and her staff, Home Health, Hospice Care of Nantucket and St. Mary's Church community, especially Father Caron, also the supportive family and friends.

May God Bless all of you!

- Jean Duarte, Nick, Jana, Kezia,

& Darian Duarte, Daniel Duarte,

Donna Raab

IT'S NOT NICE TO FOOL MOTHER NATURE

Hey Hawkeye:

I saw your column in the May 9 issue of The Independent; I found it on the beach where I was hauled out for a snooze. The two-leggers are always cluttering up the place with their detritus, but at least this rag made for interesting reading.

Well, you're right, there's a new channel through Smith's Point; it makes for some good surfing and fishing and a challenging swim even for me, against the current. And there'll be fewer twoleggers and their four-wheelers to disturb my naps on Esther Island. The plovers are happy about it, too.

But let me tell you about 'Sconset, since you say you don't fly out that way. I cruise around the island quite a bit. A bunch of us have been partying in the rip at Great Point.) All the junk the two-leggers put on the bluff near Sankaty lighthouse was washed away in that big blow. It was strewn all up and down the shore, all the way to Great Point. That brown netting stuff really tangles up everything. I heard one of our pups got strangled and drowned. The two-leggers are churning up the beach in their machines, trying to pick it all up and put it back. It's pretty pointless - I don't know why they feel they have to mess with nature and think they can control everything. They should just go with the flow, the way we do, don't you think?

Well, don't get me started; my lips are sealed. Gotta go fish; I'll look for you next time. Yours,

- Flip, the grey seal