Mary Oliver
The wind wags its many tails. And in the evening the piled firewood shifts a little, longing to be on its way. —Mary Oliver
April 18, 2025
Flying Horses Opens
The season gets off to a galloping start on Saturday with the opening of the Flying Horses Carousel in Oak Bluffs.
Emily Hammett Weds Chase Stormer
Robert V. Hammett of Oak Bluffs and Deborah Hammett are pleased to announce the marriage of their daughter Emily to Chase Stormer.
Island Farmers Shepherd in Lamb Season
At farms around the Island, lambs are one of the many spring harbingers here that include the chorus of pinkletinks from the swamps and wetlands, and majestic osprey circling overhead as they build their nests.
Giving Mother Nature a Hand
Here on the Vineyard, the Island celebrates its 33rd Earth Day with a host of activities on Saturday, April 19, including a beach clean-up and an after-party at the Martha’s Vineyard Museum.
The Puck Stops Here
Twenty-five years ago, there we stood, the four of us, up in the stands at the Fleet Center in Boston: Mike McLaughlin, George Gamble, Tom Mayhew and I.
Important Words
Editors, Vineyard Gazette; Wednesday, April 16 marks the 62nd anniversary of the publication of Martin Luther King’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail. Given the current divisions in America, this patriotic letter takes on particular significance. I would urge everyone to read or re-read this letter. Reverend King went on to give a patriotic speech on…
Making the Call for More Mindfulness
This whole thought came from a conversation I had with one of my sons in law when we were discussing the world and technology.
Charlie
The following tribute to Charlie Blair was read at the Edgartown annual town meeting on April 8.
Electric Ferries Will be a Heavy Lift for Steamship Authority
More than three years after the Steamship Authority began investigating the potential for electrified ferries, the boat line is no closer to reducing its dependence on diesel fuel.
Lyrid Meteor Shower
The Lyrid Meteor shower is a favorite for spring. For the first time we have a meteor shower that isn't happening in the depths of winter. It is spring, and we can all go outside and enjoy this important shower. The time to look for meteors at their peak is Monday night and well into…
New Reverend Strikes a Balance in Chilmark
Rev. Janet Stoddard feels that religion can be both serious and fun. It is this type of attitude she hopes to bring to her new role as pastor of the Chilmark Community Church.
Land Bank Revenues: Week Ending April 11
The Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank reported revenues of $427,450 for the business week ending on Friday, April 11, 2025.
Spring Shapes Up
Palm Sunday was so chilly and rainy that it was difficult to imagine spring is supposed to be happening.
Recent Real Estate Transactions: Week Ending April 11
SMD Investments LLC. purchased 8 Snail Road, 14 Snail Road and 0 Wooten Basset Road in Chilmark from Peter Flagella Trust and Menemshovitz Realty Trust for $15,000,000 on April 8.
Gael Arrives
Gabriela Andrade and Joao Ferreira, of Oak Bluffs, announce the birth of a son, Gael Andrade Ferreira, born on April 15.
A Chilly Wind
Easter came and went quietly, unmarked by much of the traditional pre-summer bustle, but with a lifting influence that was noticeable everywhere.
School Sports Teams Are on a Roll
From the track to the tennis courts, the lacrosse fields to the baseball and softball diamonds, to the ocean waters, spring sports is firing on all cylinders.
Easter Services Around the Island
Maundy/Holy Thursday, April 17 Federated Church of Martha’s Vineyard, 45 South Summer street, Edgartown, service 7 p.m. Grace Episcopal Church, corner of Woodlawn and William streets in Vineyard Haven, community meal, 6 p.m.; liturgy and stripping of the altar 7 p.m. St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 34 N Summer street, foot washing and stripping of the…
Radiant Red Maples
Maple trees are rolling out the red carpet.
Chappy Town Column: April 18
The Chappy Community Center spring clean-up is scheduled for Saturday, April 26 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Whether you can spend the whole time or just pop in for 30 minutes, your help would be so appreciated.
Bright Colors
Some brightly colored birds (orioles, tanagers and grosbeaks) are now migrating north through Central America. And storms cross from the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico before making their way northward to us.
Edgartown Town Column: April 18
The weather pattern is still the same. It has been rainy, windy, sunny and foggy. Temperatures have varied too.
Chilmark Town Column: April 18
If you’ve been to any of the 63 National Parks, you know already that it’s more than just a pretty place; it is an awe inspiring experience.
West Tisbury Town Column: April 18
It is the early 1950s, somewhere, anywhere, in Canada, and I am standing at the kitchen door on Easter morning in my new Easter clothes.
Vineyard Haven Town Column: April 18
The weather reminds me of a see-saw. I’m thinking our drought has ended.
Charges Dropped Against Corrections Officer
Prosecutors on Friday decided to not move forward with the charges against Craig A. Daley, who had been accused of assaulting and raping a woman in 2024.
Ocean View Property Owner Unveils New Hotel Plan
The Ocean View in Oak Bluffs, where generations of Islanders met for family dinners, date nights and drinks before it burned to the ground in 2022, will not be rising from its ashes as a restaurant.
Massachusetts Sets First Fishing Limits for Bonito, False Albacore
The state Marine Fisheries Advisory Commission voted late last month to adopt a 16-inch minimum size limit on the two fish, which are staples of the Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby.
Honoring Nature and Tradition at Lobsterville Beach Grass Planting
The harsh wind and cold on Saturday morning did not deter Islanders who gathered at Lobsterville beach to plant restorative beach grass.
A Contemporary Take on Stations of the Cross Tradition
The Federated Church of Martha’s Vineyard has updated the traditional good Friday devotion of the Stations of the Cross to include contemporary issues to highlight how atrocities are ongoing in present-day society.
Denied Wastewater Permit Draws Lawsuit in Oak Bluffs
Two Oak Bluffs residents hoping to build a new home on Ocean avenue are suing the town’s wastewater commission for what they allege is an unsubstantiated decision and a potential conflict of interest.
Trustees Offer Beachgoers More Options
The Trustees of Reservations is allowing free admission to its Vineyard beaches for walkers and bicyclists this summer and plans to have free vehicle passes available at the Island libraries.
Skate Park Vandalized
About 15 lights on the pathway surrounding the skate park in Oak Bluffs were vandalized in recent weeks, according to parks commission chair Tony Lima.
Helping to Bring Equine End of Life Care to the Island
A new equine euthanasia service on the Vineyard is being championed by Island horse owners who say gaps in care have widened over the years due to the lack of veterinarians.
New Moped Bill Aims to Up the Licensing Requirements
Rep. Thomas Moakley, a Democrat from Falmouth, crafted legislation earlier this year that would require people driving mopeds to have a motorcycle license.
Green Villa Developers Say They Would Drop Retail for More Apartments
In an April 10 email to the commission, William Cumming said he is willing to replace the four retail buildings in his application with four two-story apartment buildings holding 36 dwellings.
