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2005 ECA President Annual Letter
June, 2005
Dear Each Chop Colleagues:
There was a time when I thought that April was the cruelest month on Martha’s
Vineyard – you know, 64 degrees and sunny in Boston, 43 degrees and foggy on the
island, day after day after day. I have changed my mind, however, by virtue of
enduring this past month of May when the temperature in my own back yard never
went above 60 degrees until the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend. While the
weather may have dampened my spirits, it hasn’t dampened the East Chop
Association’s efforts to try to maintain and improve the quality of life on the
chop.
Biggest among our endeavors has been the establishment of the East Chop
information website. Visit it at eastchop.vineyard.net (without the www prefix).
The mastermind who graciously and meticulously created it over the past winter
is our resident genius John Caldwell. Besides providing calendars for the ECA,
ECTC, ECBC, ECYC, and all-island events, the website also affords people the
opportunity to exchange “classifieds” and share any news with the community.
As always, John Breckenridge continues to give generously of himself as a man
who wears many hats, one of which is that of overseer of our parks and the
bluff. In March, a group of us worked with John and Tea Lane Nursery to improve
and create several vistas from the beach road through to Crystal Lake. Through
John’s efforts we also have established an excellent symbiotic relationship with
the town, particularly with the Highway and Parks Department – a cooperative
spirit never more evident than at the East Chop Lighthouse where the association
paid Tea Lane Nursery to remove the invasive species of bittersweet and poison
ivy that were choking plant life along the top of the bluff while the town not
only removed the cut debris from the premises, but also installed a split rail
fence.
The posts on the bluff once again are gleaming white, thanks to the mutual
efforts of the association and the town. We did some preparation work and paid
for the paint while the town did the painting.
In order to maintain the health of the grasses growing on the bluff, it is
important that people refrain from throwing grass clippings, brush, or any other
debris over the bluff. This debris is detrimental as it suffocates the
vegetation that holds the bluff in place.
There continues to be concerns about the integrity of the bluff, first at the
maintenance road below Brewster Avenue. The Oak Bluff Conservation Commission is
still in the process of attaining grant money to make what will be expensive
repairs. A second area of concern lies above Brewster Avenue where the top of
the bluff is only four feet from the road. In 1993 when the road was reopened
after repairs of the damage from Hurricane Bob and the Perfect Storm, the Army
Corp of Engineers made it clear that heavy vehicles should not use East Chop
Drive, except in the case of emergency.
If the bluff should slide, or if the road should crack or be deemed unsafe
for any reason, the road will be closed, never to be reopened. On June 7, 2005,
at the request of the association, the town selectmen addressed the issue of
overweight vehicles. In turn, they requested from the Martha’s Vineyard
Commission a traffic study which was conducted during a twenty-four hour period
on Wednesday, June 22, 2005. As of this writing those results are not available
but will be essential in gaining the overweight restriction, which is issued by
the State Highway Department, and applicable to vehicles weighing in excess of
five thousand pounds.
As a continued effort to control and eliminate the invasive plants in Crystal
Lake, the association has signed a one-year contract, once again, with Lycott
Environmental Inc. to make two alum treatments to combat algae and pond weed,
and one application in September of Rodeo to eliminate any recurring phragmites
along the shoreline, particularly on the peninsula at the southeast side of the
pond.
It was the decision of the board and membership ten years ago to take the
necessary measures to keep Crystal Lake from eutrophying into a smelly,
mosquito-infested swamp – a process that could take as little as fifty years. It
is becoming apparent to me that promises we have made to our children and
grandchildren to preserve and maintain the pond may cost the association as much
as $5000 annually. Fortunately, we have the financial resources, thanks to dues
and additional contributions.
As emblazoned in bright red on the East Chop website calendar, the dates for the
association’s annual meetings are Saturday, July 16, 2005 and August 20, 2005.
The meetings will begin promptly at 10 a.m. at the East Chop Beach Club. As
always, refreshments will be served.
Sincerely,
Craig Dripps, President
History of the East Chop Association
The East Chop Association's origin goes back to those early days when the
Vineyard Grove Company laid out lots in the "Highlands" and designated certain
areas as "parks". When this company was bought out by an off-island syndicate
about 1930, several East Chop owners formed the Highlands Property Trust which
bought the park properties. Finally, in 1941, the East Chop Association, Inc
evolved, gained non-profit status a few years ago, and today holds deeds to all
various parks and properties. Since then, the Association has received donations
of additional lands from several individuals. The deeds and bylaws of the
organization state that these East Chop Association holdings will forever remain
as open space, never to be sold.
The East Chop Association Today
Today the Association owns some 12 parks, several small plots, Crystal Lake, and
the Bluffs -- in all some 25-plus acres. Crystal Lake was acquired through
solicitation of funds from members in the early 70's and then donated to the
Association. One exceptional holding is the historic Baptist Temple Park, dating
from the days when East Chop was envisioned to be another Camp Meeting Ground.
The parks are located throughout East Chop, and most are identified by
distinctive signs. For a map of the locations of the parks, click this link
which doesn't exist yet.
Purposes of the East Chop Association
One of the Association's main purposes is to oversee and maintain its
properties, all of which add to the beauty and comfortable ambience of East
Chop. Over the years, the parks have been maintained by a volunteer staff of
dedicated individuals. In addition, we monitor municipal and environmental
concerns of local impact. Ongoing projects are the continual erosion of the
Bluffs and the water quality of Crystal Lake. Funding of all work is provided
entirely by membership dues and donations.
Organization of the Association
An elected slate of officers and board of directors, with input from the
membership, govern the organization. Membership meetings are held twice each
summer (link to schedule)
Join the East Chop Association!
The East Chop Association welcomes all residents, and invites those owners or
renters who are not already members to join. To do so, please send your name,
summer address, winter address if different with a $25 tax deductible membership
fee to:
The East Chop Association
P.O. Box 1916
Oak Bluffs, MA 02557
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