Dylan Thomas
The birds of the winged trees flying my name Above the farms and the white horses I rose in rainy autumn And walked abroad in a shower of all my days. – Dylan Thomas
April 10, 2020
Living With the Certainty of Change
Benjamin Franklin once said, “In this world nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes.” I would like to add the word “change.”
Betelgeuse is Back
One of the bright stars of winter, Betelgeuse is back. Betelgeuse is a principle star in the zodiacal constellation Orion. Betelgeuse is high in the west after sunset.
Easter Weekend Virtual Services
Churches around the Island are hosting virtual Good Friday and Easter services.
Too Soon
The sun finally came out over the weekend, and so did more than a few unwary people, risking themselves and others.
Eastertime Flowers Bring Hope, Joy
At night I dream myself to sleep with flowers. Sometimes I go through the alphabet, A to Z, asters to zinnias, buttercups to yarrow.
Numbers Show Unusual Late-Winter Population Swell
Martha’s Vineyard has experienced an unusual late-winter population swell since the beginning of March, an analysis of traffic statistics shows.
All Together
As a lifelong Islander, I am deeply upset by the verbal abuse with which some of my dearest family friends from New York, who happened to be here when the pandemic struck, have received simply because of their license plate.
Easter eggs
From the April 1950 editions of the Vineyard Gazette:
Serendipity
We drive by a pond many times a week, and decades pass without seeing anything other than mallards, Canada geese and crows.
Planting Time
I don’t know how I ever went to work. I spend the entire day fussing around my house and yard.
Contemplating Celandine
Poet William Wordsworth is known to have held daffodils dear, but they were not his favorite flower.
Hello Clover
Rene and Tim Millerick, of Oak Bluffs, announce the birth of a daughter, Clover Rae Millerick, born on April 2.
Vineyard Haven Town Column: April 10
The turkeys, the cats, the dogs have so quickly adjusted to having me home all the time now.
Aquinnah Town Column: April 10
Spring is in the air around Aquinnah. Blossoms of forsythia are in along the byways.
Edgartown Town Column: April 10
On Monday the sun was awesome and the sky that beautiful blue and I was happy to be in the yard.
Chappy Town Column: April 10
Mark your calendar for Saturday, April 25, for major work on the Chappy Ferry ramp.
Chilmark Town Column: April 10
“Get some exercise, then go back home. It’s not a holiday, it’s a pandemic.”
Island Equestrienne Named All-American
Ava Stearns of Chilmark and Auburn University has been named to the National Collegiate Equestrian Association’s list of all-American players.
Playhouse Cancels Summer Shows
The Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse announced today it has canceled its summer season of live productions, children’s programs and other events.
Martha’s Vineyard Vision Fellowships Are Announced
High school seniors, community organizers and a police sergeant are among the 18 Islanders awarded financial support by the Vineyard Vision Fellowship this week.
Longtime Oak Bluffs Summer Resident Dies from Covid-19
Gary A. Jenkins, an entertainment attorney who lived in Scarsdale, N.Y., died March 29 after contracting the virus. Mr. Jenkins had summered on the Vineyard for more than half a century.
Looking to Fellowship and Compassion to Ease the Pain
Today I have been in self-quarantine for almost nine weeks, parallel but completely separate from the pandemic.
Contact Tracing Is Key Part of Public Health Effort
Six Island health agents and public health nurses with Island Health Care are hard at work identifying and monitoring every confirmed case of Covid-19 on the Vineyard.
Dukes County Lags in 2020 U.S. Census Response
Dukes County ranks dead last in the state — by far — for responses to the 2020 census, according to a real-time response tracker on the U.S. Census Bureau website.
Felix Neck Reopens
Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary in Edgartown reopened its trail system Thursday. Director Suzan Bellincampi said the buildings remain closed.
Film Center Offers Streaming
The Martha’s Vineyard Film Society is streaming features online at mvfilmsociety.com. Some are free and others require an existing subscription or rental fee.
Tisbury Shoppers Must Mask Up
Anyone entering a grocery store within the town of Tisbury must go alone and wear a face covering, starting Thursday.
Hospital Confirms 12th Case of Coronavirus; Island Health Care Receives Federal Grant
The latest confirmed case of Covid-19 is a man in his thirties, public health officials said Wednesday, bringing the total number of cases on the Island to 12. In related news, Cong. Bill Keating announced a $513,830 federal grant to Island Health Care.
Trustees Properties Reopen
All but one of the Trustees of Reservations properties on Martha’s Vineyard will reopen Thursday. The Farm Institute remains closed to visitors.
Tisbury Postpones Due Dates for Property Tax Bills to June 1
Tisbury property owners will have an extra month to pay their real estate and personal property taxes, following a vote by town selectmen Tuesday that moves the due date from May 1 to June 1.
Selectmen Adopt Strict Parking Limits at Menemsha
Signs will go up, picnic tables will be removed and a 15-minute parking rule will go into effect in Menemsha this week after Chilmark selectmen heard concerns Tuesday about people congregating at scenic spots.
No Touching But Grasping for Understanding
“April is the cruelest month,” T.S. Eliot wrote almost 100 years ago. He could not have guessed how cruel it would be in 2020.
Beach Road Weekend Canceled
The multi-day music festival, scheduled for late July, was canceled by the Tisbury selectmen Tuesday afternoon.
Easter Dining Specials
Around the Island, restaurants are offering pick-up Easter dinners and treats.
Retired Library Director Looks to Next Chapter
Beth Kramer, director of the West Tisbury Library since 2007, retired at the end of March.
SSA Begins Further Service Reductions, As Traffic Continues Its Freefall
The Steamship Authority has announced further service reductions on the Vineyard route, beginning this week. The ferry Martha’s Vineyard will go off line on weekends.
No New Cases for Third Straight Day, Hospital Confirms One Staffer Has Tested Positive for Covid-19
No new coronavirus cases were reported on the Vineyard Tuesday, while statewide confirmed cases continued to soar, along with the death toll from the disease.
Fentanyl Testing Available
The Edgartown police department is making fentanyl testing strips available to members of the community at risk of fatal overdoses from tainted opiates.
Best of the Vineyard Party Off; Online Awards Planned
Martha’s Vineyard Magazine has canceled the Best of the Vineyard celebration scheduled for June 4, but is making plans to recognize the winners virtually.
Lockdown Silver Linings
A useful coping mechanism in these difficult times is to look for the positives and to write them down.
Island Churches Lift Up the Message of Palm Sunday
Worshipers across Martha’s Vineyard prayed and lighted candles during Palm Sunday services that were held online or pre-recorded by Island ministers.
Yard Cancels Performances
The Yard has cancelled all programming at its Chilmark campus through June, according to an announcement from the performing arts nonprofit.
Film Talks Move Online
The Martha’s Vineyard Film Society’s Film Talk class, with managing director Bob Dutton, is moving to YouTube.
Emergency Fund Gets $100,000 Boost
The Permanent Endowment for Martha’s Vineyard has announced a $100,000 gift to its Emergency Response Fund.
Boards of Health, Hospital Reconcile Numbers on Coronavirus Cases; Nantucket Reports First Death
Confirmed cases of Covid-19 on the Island held steady Monday, after case reporting discrepancies among the hospital, boards of health and state led to a one-case overcount.
Finding Hope in Moments Big and Small
It was the last Thursday in March and I felt a need to record the day.
Kneading Dough in Granada
Just weeks before she died, digital thieves snuck in and stole my mother’s identity.
Island Police, EMS Take Extra Precautions
Staggered shifts and scaling back on arrests are among the new protocols that have been adopted by Island police and emergency responders during the pandemic.
Scottish Pride, Vineyard Roots, Fuel Tartan Day
Monday, April 6, 2020 marks the 700th anniversary of the signing of Scotland’s Declaration of Independence.
Lee Fierro, Island Theatre Matriarch Who Had a Role In Jaws, Dies at 91
The Martha’s Vineyard theatre community and Jaws aficionados alike are mourning the loss of longtime thespian Lee Fierro, who died Sunday at the age of 91.
Island Coronavirus Cases Stay Steady; New Field Hospital Planned on Cape Cod
No new coronavirus cases were reported on Martha’s Vineyard Sunday, while statewide cases continued to rise and a new field hospital on Cape Cod was announced by Gov. Charlie Baker.
Disc Golf Closes
The Riverhead Disc Golf Course off Barnes Road is closed until further notice by order of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.
Help for Homebound Up-Island
The Chilmark Neighbors to Neighbors hot line is available for residents who need help with errands while they are in isolation due to Covid-19.
Islanders, Make History
The Martha’s Vineyard Museum invites Islanders to share their stories of history in the making so that future generations will know what it was like to be here during the coronavirus pandemic.
Writers Read Online
Community members read short original prose pieces for an internet audience April 13 at 7 p.m., as the West Tisbury Library’s monthly Writers Read evening moves online.
Utilities, Banks Offer Hardship Relief
Islanders out of work due to the coronavirus pandemic are facing tough choices as the monthly bills come in. Local banks and utilities are responding.
A Time to Reflect, a Time to Wonder
There is so much uninterrupted time imposed by the stay-at-home order.
There’s No Place Like Home
When the news began getting overwhelmed with stories of Covid-19, and the anxieties mounted, I lost my ability to read.
Pride in Our Community; Year-Round and Seasonal
In frightening times, it is perhaps a universal feeling to prioritize the safety of our family over all else.
Tilling the Soil, Inspired by Strong Roots
I’m sitting at my computer, planning to write what I’ve been doing during our enforced social distancing in this coronavirus pandemic.
Martha’s Vineyard Bank Contributes $625,000 to Pandemic Relief Effort
The Martha’s Vineyard Savings Bank has announced a $625,000 charitable initiative for coronavirus relief through the month of April.
Virtual Palm Sunday Services
Religious services are still taking place around the Island in various ways.
Coastal Storm Lashes Vineyard, Closing Roads
Ferries were shutting down, Beach Road was partially closed and fishermen were securing their boats as a northeaster lashed the Vineyard with rain and wind Friday.
