On Town Managers’ Leaving
To the editor:
I have thoroughly enjoyed my subscription to the Independent and look forward to all the interesting subjects and news that it covers.
The Nov. 19 article “What’s Behind Revolving Door of Managers” [front page] particularly caught my attention. I have been a Cape resident for almost 13 years and have witnessed this carousel of town managers. I have also known many town employees who have dealt with some of these managers.
I would like to see a follow-up story on some of the employees’ perspectives on these town managers. I realize that these employees cannot really speak to the press and have to keep their opinions to themselves. But I want to point out that there are two sides to every story.
I think that you would get a very different take on the managers’ reasons for leaving, and on some employees’ elation at them doing so. It would also be interesting to see the employee attrition rate while some of these managers were holding their positions. You might be surprised what you discover.
Joni Kosmach
Brewster
Architect of the Adorable
To the editor:
As a longtime admirer of the building that houses the harbormaster’s office in Provincetown, I was happy to see the photo of it on your Nov. 19 front page.
Other fans of the “adorable” building’s design might be interested to know that the architect was Alison Alessi. She has worked on other projects in town also, including the redesign of the former fire station next to Bubala’s.
Jeanne Washington
Provincetown
Fearless Flyers
To the editor:
Regarding last week’s story “It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! No, It’s Eversource.” [page A9]: As someone who is acrophobic (has an extreme fear of heights), I was awestruck and a bit queasy when recently witnessing an Eversource worker flying through the air in South Wellfleet, tethered to a helicopter.
Dealing with high-voltage lines at great heights is exceptionally dangerous, but workers being dropped onto a power line tower from a helicopter is a death-defying act — with absolutely no room for error on anyone’s part. I can’t believe that people filed noise complaints about this project.
Given the pandemic, I’m left wondering if some of those residents of Wellfleet, Eastham, and Orleans who complained about the helicopter noise also took issue with those tethered, fearless, high-flying Eversource workers for not wearing masks.
Mike Rice
Wellfleet
Turnip Conversion
To the editor:
I have to admit that, after decades in Truro, I hadn’t appreciated the Eastham turnip — hadn’t really been aware that it was a thing, like the Wellfleet oyster and its festival. We would see the sign on Route 6 announcing “Turnip” and wonder how many that attracted.
Then, while walking on one of our familiar trails, we saw that Ann and Alec Marshall’s garden had come alive in September with rows of green plants. “What are you planting this late?” we asked. Ann explained that a local farmer was using their plot to plant Eastham turnips. Supposed to be the best, she said. How much better could a turnip be, I thought.
Two weeks ago, while walking our dog on Ryder Beach Road, I spied two large orbs attached to luscious green leaves on the side of the road. Upon closer inspection, I realized that these were Eastham turnips that must have fallen off the farmer’s truck. I took them home, where they sat on the counter for a few days.
Recipes for Eastham turnips generally involved drowning them in butter, cream, and cheese, or in sugar. No turnip could be worth that many calories.
So, I decided to treat them like a potato. Which resulted in a recipe — or, in Sam Sifton’s New York Times style, a non-recipe — that awakened me to their amazingly sweet and savory flavor.
Preheat oven to 425. Take as many turnips as you would potatoes and cut into 3/4-inch cubes. Toss with enough olive oil to lightly coat. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add enough herbes de Provence to coat. Spread on a cookie sheet and bake 20 minutes. About halfway through, give them a shake so they brown evenly.
Joan Fitzgerald
Boston and Truro
Thanks, Aunt Rosie
To the editor:
This is a little note to thank you for your thoughtfulness in sending me your very impressive paper, the Provincetown Independent! I look forward to finding it in my mailbox. It alerts my mind to so many avenues of interest.
Rosemary Parrett
Tulsa, Okla.
