Odor Control in Eastham
To the editor:
I am responding to Andrew Hay’s May 1 letter to the editor entitled “Unpleasant Odors.” I agree with Mr. Hay that my remarks about Eastham’s proposed sewage system were “off-putting.” I would add that they appear even to me to be insensitive to the concerns of the neighborhoods surrounding the proposed treatment facility. I sincerely apologize and hope that residents know I care and that we are working to address their concerns.
I want to reassure the community that the town will be using state-of-the-art technology for the design and construction of the facility. This facility, if approved, will not only address our wastewater needs but also be a model of environmental responsibility.
During the design, construction, and, more critically, the operation of the facility, the town is committed to taking all possible steps to minimize and mitigate any odor. The facility will be designed with influent traveling from underground pipes into enclosed tanks within buildings. We will not be accepting any septage from pumping trucks. The buildings will feature advanced systems for odor control and carbon filtration of all air before it is released through the HVAC system. We have designed the treatment facility with covered or fully enclosed tanks and incorporated buffering systems to manage operational noise.
We understand that wastewater infrastructure is something that no resident wants to think about, let alone pay for. This is a crucial vote for our community, however. Please attend an information session and attend the town meeting to vote on June 23.
Jacqueline W. Beebe
Eastham
The writer is Eastham’s town manager.
Ospreys at Home
To the editor:
The site fidelity Dennis Minsky described in “No Place Like Home” [April 24, page A3] could explain why ospreys appear to mate for life.
Pairs of ospreys return to the same nests in the spring after their winter migration. But they leave and return separately and live apart during the winter.
When the male of a pair dies, the female often procreates with another osprey the next summer. Several years ago, my wife and I observed that phenomenon when the male of a pair nesting within sight of our deck perished by falling down a chimney. He was trying to control a struggling fish he had procured to feed the family. The female took over the fishing and feeding duties until she and the juveniles migrated south in September.
The next spring, the female returned to the nest, which she initially occupied alone. Shortly thereafter, we observed a multi-bird aerial display that appeared to be males seeking the female’s favor. One morning, a male was in the nest, and the new pair proceeded to produce offspring.
In the fall, the adults and juveniles left separately for their migration south. The following spring, the new pair returned to the same nest (several days apart) and continued the cycle.
In common with other animals, ospreys find their way home by detecting the strength and orientation of the Earth’s magnetic fields. They navigate by sensing minute changes in field direction and intensity — a magnetic map to guide their journey.
Site fidelity for humans is primarily psychological, while for animals it is physiological.
Ronald A. Gabel
Yarmouth Port
Letters to the Editor
The Provincetown Independent welcomes letters from readers on all subjects. They must be signed with the writer’s name, home address, and telephone number (for verification). Letters will be published only if they have been sent exclusively to the Independent. They should be no more than 300 words and may be edited for clarity, accuracy, conciseness, and good taste. Longer pieces (up to 600 words) may be submitted for consideration as op-ed commentary. Send letters to [email protected] or by mail to P.O. Box 1034, Provincetown, MA 02657. The deadline for letters is Monday at noon for each week’s edition.
