The stated mission of the Martha’s Vineyard Commission (MVC) “is to help carefully manage growth so that the Vineyard's unique environment, character, social fabric and sustainable economy are maintained as development takes place." Stop & Shop, an internationally-owned corporation, would like to expand its store in Vineyard Haven, the main port of Martha’s Vineyard. The existing store is 9,649 square feet and one story high (14 to 16 feet in height). Stop & Shop wants to build a store which is 48,987 square feet, two stories high (39 feet in height), and has a parking garage. Because of its size and location, the proposed building is officially regarded as a Development of Regional Impact (DRI) and must therefore be approved by the MVC. Stop & Shop’s proposal qualifies for rejection under the mission statement and enabling legislation of the MVC. Though in favor of an appropriate renovation of the Stop & Shop store, we the undersigned ask the members of the MVC to adhere to the clear guidelines in their enabling legislation and vote to deny Stop & Shop’s current DRI application, DRI 89-M3, for the following reasons: 1. Inappropriate scale and character. The “big box” store and parking garage that Stop & Shop wishes to build--typical of an off-Island shopping mall in Anywhere, U.S.A.--would dominate visitors’ and Islanders’ first view of Martha's Vineyard from the ferry. Such a building would adversely change the unique historical and visual character of the village of Vineyard Haven. 2. Traffic impacts. All studies agree that traffic would increase by 5 to 15%, further burdening an already highly congested area. The MVC’s traffic consultant has stated that the five roads that meet at the closest intersection, Five Corners, would ALL be at level-of-service F---meaning total failure. Large trailer trucks backing into the trailer bays would disrupt access to Water Street and the ferry via Norton Lane. Serious disruptions to public transportation, both the ferry (SSA) and bus (VTA) operations and schedules, are also predicted. 3. Economic impacts. The proposed superstore would compromise the economic sustainability of locally owned businesses, both during the construction phase and after. Construction would impede normal operations of many businesses Islandwide. 4. Environmental and quality-of-life impacts. There would be major disruptions during construction. Then and after, air quality would be reduced by increased traffic congestion and venting of the parking garage. Water quality would be reduced by runoff from the building’s roof and parking garage. Venting from the parking garage would contribute to noise pollution. Needed areas of open space and greenery would be eliminated. Furthermore, the two-story building would have no setbacks. It would encroach on the municipal parking lot and Cromwell Lane, and cut off sun to Norton Lane and the parking lot. 5. It sets a dangerous precedent. The scale of this building will raise the benchmark for an acceptable scale and style of development in the rest of Vineyard Haven and elsewhere on the Island.

Ralph Reed has a long history of leading hate groups, yet somehow is afforded a seat at the table in serious discussions about civil rights and LGBT issues on major news outlets. Spouting mistruths and calling them facts (that somehow go completely unchecked by on-air personalities) in order to sway the minds of viewers, Reed has a mission to malign the LGBT community and promote animosity and hostility against them. Just this weekend on THIS WEEK, he stated falsely that "the social science is irrefutable" that a child growing up in a home parented by LGBT parents is "9 times more likely to drop out of school and 3 times more likely to grow up addicted to drugs". He also spoke of his organization's work "going into 100,000 churches (TAX EXEMPT CHURCHES) nationwide, conduct voter registration drives and pass out voter guides". Something is amiss and afoul here. This man SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN AIRTIME by major news outlets who claim fairness and a dedication to presenting viewers with facts and truth.

Rep. Randy Hultgren voted for a federal budget that would, according Economic Policy Institute, slow the economy and cost 1.1 million jobs next year -- and 3 million jobs in 2016. This is a federal budget only a billionaire or defense contractor could love. Paul Ryan's congressional budget would cut $137 billion from SNAP (food stamps), $125 billion from Pell Grants, and $16 billion to block grants for Meals on Wheels, homeless shelters, and child care for working-poor families. While Ryan's budget isn't likely to pass the Senate, we need to send Congressman Hultgren a strong message so that he knows we don't support these budget priorities. We want him to champion a budget that creates jobs and gives everyone a fair shot in life. If enough of us sign, Rep. Hultgren will know exactly where his district stands. MORE INFORMATION: "By Ignoring Economic Reality, Ryan Budget Would Slow Recovery, Cost Jobs," Economic Policy Institute, April 1, 2014 http://goo.gl/tNExVy "Ryan Plan Gets 69 Percent of Its Budget Cuts From Programs for People With Low or Moderate Incomes," Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, April 8, 2014 http://goo.gl/RuW0nQ

Since 1951, WGBH Boston's high-power 89.7 FM has been a regional beacon for good music, soliciting donations on that basis. Five years ago classical was exiled to a weak suburban station with dumbed-down programming, firing its leading classical host, Richard Kniseley - and folk and blues were dropped entirely - in order to duplicate the other Boston NPR station's news/talk format in the daytime. Two years ago, its widely-popular Jazz with Eric in the Evening was canceled during the week and isolated to weekends, and its jazz archivist, producer and host Steve Schwartz fired, so that the station could replay its daytime talk shows at night. If WGBH won't go back to its original mission of providing the best music on the most powerful transmitter in New England, it should step aside and let someone else do so.

We're starting a revolution. Gone are the days when people risk being made fun of for doing varial flips. Too many feelings are hurt and too many potential professional skateboarders are turned away. It's time to end varial flip discrimination once and for all.

This petition is to bring Concorde back. There are many reasons as to why she should fly again. This page will give you most/all of the details you need to know about her, and why she is retired. http://www.saveconcordegroup.co.uk/ Thank you.

A Food Initiative on the Gill Tract Farm -- VIDEO ABOUT PETITION: How smart is it for a major university to pave over half of its last research farm? One graduate student takes us on a tour and synthesizes 15 years of efforts into a stunning vision of what this land could be. Once home to the world's premiere organic pest control research center, U.C. Berkeley is about to build a parking lot and a big box grocery store on this prime soil. According to Katie McKnight (Master of Environmental Planning, 2016), this dismal scenario does not have to be the answer for this unique urban farm. Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yx-avVDbpf4 BACKGROUND ABOUT PETITION: For over 15 years, faculty, students, and local community have protested the commercial development of the historic Gill Tract Farm and research site, managed by UC Berkeley. These concerned stakeholders have crafted several alternative proposals, advocating for its preservation as an educational resource (like the 1997 BACUA Proposal [1]). In 2012, after neighbors and students occupied the land in protest of its commercial development, a 1.5 acre section called "Area A," now called “Gill Tract Community Farm” was transferred from Capital Projects to the College of Natural Resources and became a pilot project for a new community-UC collaboration. That project is flourishing, and we hope to see it grow to all 16 acres rather than the commercial development. Meanwhile, the commercial development that would pave over the southern portion of the Gill Tract is slated to begin any day. This development design, with its vast parking lot, big-box grocery store, and retail stores is out of touch with community and student needs. A new grocery store is being built just two blocks from the Gill Tract, making it unnecessary to build another national chain store that trucks in produce from across the globe. Furthermore, the additional diesel from delivery trucks and the removal of bioremediating trees and green space-- in a neighborhood whose air quality is already highly impacted by industry and roadways [2] -- would be damaging to the public health of the surrounding community. The UC has begun to prioritize food systems as a critical area for expansion, but this statement has yet to be put into practice. A center for urban agriculture and sustainable food systems at the Gill Tract would accomplish all four goals of the recent President Napolitano's Food Initiative [2]. The 16 acres are uniquely suited to be developed as a model food system that integrates farming, economics, culture, and public health. It would make UC resources accessible to the public through hands-on education and participatory research, and develop precedent for establishing authentic University to community relationships. This dynamic model could help make the UC system a global leader on issues of food and farming, while improving student education through engaged and active learning. Student and community voices now join together and demand that our public University reconsider the development and work to involve student and community participation in developing an alternative design that integrates the land's potential for education, research, food production, and distribution. A group of undergraduates, graduates, and alumnae delegates are prepared to meet and move forward with this process. We urge UC Berkeley administration, the UC Regents, and President Napolitano to halt the current development plan for the Gill Tract Farm and enter into a collaborative design process with students and community for the entire Gill Tract Farm. Sincerely, Students for Engaged and Active Learning Co-Sponsors for Petition: Fossil Free Cal, Student Organic Garden Association, Grow the Revolution, Berkeley Student Food Cooperative, UAW 2865, Movement Generation, Planting Justice, Phat Beets Produce, Gill Tract Farm Coalition, Occupy the Farm, Food First, Albany Farm Alliance, Grassroots International, Hormigas Organicas, Rooted in Community, Sustainable Economies Law Center, Biosafety Alliance More on our website: www.sealstudents.wordpress.com 1 http://www.cnr.berkeley.edu/srr/BACUA/bacua_proposal.htm 2 http://oehha.maps.arcgis.com/apps/OnePane/basicviewer/index.html?appid=1d202d7d9dc84120ba5aac97f8b39c56 3 http://modernfarmer.com/2014/03/university-california-plans-major-foodag-initiative/

His lamborghini recently blew up and has been in the shop. I was on the car drive and it could've easily exploded if he drove anymore. This could be a big hazard to us because it could explode and hurt us all. HE SHOULD REPLACE HIS LAMBO WITH A 12C!!!!!!

As a student who has graduated from Peters Township High School, I have had to endure the start time for four years. I, as well as my peers, have had trouble getting to school on time and have experienced the negative consequences of not getting enough sleep. After reading through research and success stories over the last few years of schools that have changed their start time, I believe Peters Township High School should change their start time as well.

This petition was started because we, the undersigned students of UH Maui College, wish to create funding for sustainability and green initiatives on our UH campuses. Currently we pay a whopping 30% of our tuition to cover the expense of non-renewable utility costs. Not only is this a great personal expense for each and every one of us, using this type of energy also contributes to carbon emissions, the main proponent of climate change. It makes sense to reduce UH’s carbon footprint, not only because it will generate a positive ROI for the UH system rathern than a negative one, but because it simply is the right thing to do. With funding backing the new Board of Regents Sustainability Policy, the process of planning and implementing the switch from dirty energy to clean, sustainable energy on campus would be within reach. The Student Sustainability Fund (SSF) was invented as one vehicle to put solid resources behind student led sustainability initiatives on campus. We would like to see this become a reality on every UH campus. It does not make sense for UH to continue to pay high energy bill costs while no funding currently exists for sustainability / green efforts on our campuses. We intend to step forward and empower students to create, fund and manage a sustainability fund to find solutions to issues like UH high utility costs. Just think about the funds a 50% reduction in utility costs would free up. This is within reach if there is cooperation amongst administration and facilities to make it so. The SSF will directly benefit students, clubs, departments and our campus as a whole. The Student Sustainability Fund will be $5 a semester for each student and give UH a starting point to make their goals a reality and engage students in active involvement in this arena. As the athletic fee is $50 a semester, a $5 fee for the SSF is a small step towards a brighter future for all those at UH Maui College. Sustainability and greening efforts on hundreds of campuses typically result in a 1-3 year payback with a high return on investment. To manage projects like recycling, renewable energy, student gardens and more, financial support is necessary and the SSF will provide an initial push for the administration to then come on board with their own investments. Fore more information and access to a survey on the SSF, check out http://www.hawaii.edu/sustainability/ssch/ssf. The mission of the Hui Haumāna Mālama Hawaiʻi (Student Sustainability Coalition of Hawaiʻi) is to cultivate a system of sustainable learning environments throughout Hawaiʻi.

to restore some financial equality to americans and to help the poor

So many women today face discrimination on a daily basis--whether in the workplace, at home, in their personal lives, or in any other domain--that goes largely unnoticed by society but that we must work to stop. CEDAW outlines provisions key to ending discrimination against women and to protecting women's equality and fair treatment. It is a United Nations resolution that the United States has not ratified but that cities around the county, such as San Francisco, are acting on and adopting.