One last gift

Old Colony Memorial
John Martini died too soon, with too much left to give. At 55, he was an active, enthusiastic citizen of his adopted hometown. He valued Plymouth's woods and wild places, and gave hours of his time to try to preserve and protect them. He believed passionately in the importance of planning to manage growth intelligently.

Ironically, his family suspects he died of complications caused by Lyme disease, probably picked up in the woods or gardens he loved.

They're giving one more gift to the town, a warning to be aware of Lyme disease, and a hope that somehow Martini's untimely death will contribute to greater understanding of the tick-borne disease.

Tiny deer ticks carry the disease, so tiny that it's nearly impossible to spot them. While people generally know about the bull's-eye rash an infected tick's bite can cause, the rash doesn't always appear.

Lyme disease is all too common in this area. Ticks can be picked up on lawns and in gardens, on golf courses as well as in the woods. They're found in grassy, brushy and wooded places, and they're prevalent in Plymouth and other local towns in southeastern Massachusetts.

Insect repellent, preferably one containing DEET, is the first line of prevention. The next is to try to check for ticks daily, but that's not easy since the ticks most likely to be infected are only about the size of a poppy seed. Ticks have to be attached for at least 24 hours to infect anyone.

Be aware of the symptoms. The classic rash is a clear signal, but the rash doesn't always appear in the classic shape, or at all. Some of the other symptoms can mimic flu. They often clear up, even without treatment, but the person remains infected and more serious problems can develop later.

The ticks are most active from late May to early fall.

Plymouth residents can't live their lives in fear of tiny ticks, any more than they can live their lives in fear of mosquitoes because eastern equine encephalitis has been detected in neighboring Kingston. Ticks carrying Lyme disease and mosquitoes carrying EEE are part of our environment.

John Martini knew that growth is part of Plymouth's future, just as surely as there are ticks in its grass. He also knew it just isn't possible to slam the door and stop the clock from ticking. He believed in planning ahead. He believed in managing growth, in steering it to the appropriate places while preserving others. He was on the committee that helped persuade local voters to adopt the Community Preservation Act. He also served on the committee that put together the town's new master plan.

During his life, he reached out enthusiastically for new subjects to learn about, and even brand new occupations. He's the last person who would respond to the threat of Lyme disease by hiding indoors.

Instead, he would probably try to find out everything he could about it, and figure out a plan to deal with it.

That's an example we can all learn from.