On a sunny and busy day this July, Oak Bluffs post office square was filled with the sounds of a man and a woman arguing angrily about whether or not the town should install a $14 million sewage system.
They were only a small part of the debate that day. A few blocks away in front of the town hall, anti-sewage activists were wrapping up a news conference on the issue. In offices off-Island, the town’s pro-sewage engineers were taking calls on an 800 line set up specifically to deal with questions from Oak Bluffs voters. And flyers were everywhere, handed out downtown, stacked in Mocha Mott’s, printed on red and yellow paper and bearing dire predictions about the future if the town were to build sewers. Or not build sewers.
But despite the apparent division, it was only a few days later that voters embraced a sewage plan by substantial margins and addressed a problem they have been reluctant to deal with in the past.
“Thanks to the people of Oak Bluffs for their support at town meeting,” wrote voter Paul Strauss shortly after the meeting. “You voted for a reasonable, community-based plan. You chose the appropriate technology for wastewater treatment. . . . You saw through the smoke and mirrors of a group that was so focused on a single issue — cost — that they ignored the need of the town for solutions that are fair and reasonable and community-based.”
This was one of the highlights of 1998, a year in which Island towns and institutions experienced bitter political struggles — but nevertheless moved forward with projects designed to improve Island life.
West Tisbury voters approved a new public safety building after a lengthy community debate over possible sites and one failed proposal. The town of Chilmark was denied state money for construction of its new school, but voters still approved the long-debated plan, appropriating $3 million for the new building. The town of Tisbury approved a decentralized plan of underground septic systems to treat waste from the commercial district and other areas. And the Martha’s Vineyard Regional Transit Authority, despite aggressive opposition from private companies, has moved forward with plans for more comprehensive public mass transit.
Similarly, the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital board, though plagued with internal difficulties in the early part of the year, brought the troubled institution out of bankruptcy this fall. The hospital also has acquired Windemere Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center, and brought it out of bankruptcy. The hospital also entered into a formal partnership for sharing staff and expertise with a group of respected institutions that includes Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
There was even progress at the airport, although 1998 began uneasily. In January, the proposed $11.2 million airport terminal building project was the target of a lawsuit filed against the Martha’s Vineyard Commission by two of its own members, who said the agency had approved the project inappropriately. The suit was later dropped. More conflict came when the airport commission voted narrowly to replace longtime chairman John Alley with Marc Villa, a recently appointed member of the group. Nevertheless, progress undeniably is being made; construction on the new terminal, which has been talked about for years, began in April and is almost half done.
“I think everyone who uses the airport is happy to see things moving along,” said airport manager Phil Reynolds in an interview this summer.
Not all progress came painfully. The Island community was pleased to welcome a new police chief, Joseph C. Carter, who left a high-ranking and better-paying position to take over the Oak Bluffs police department. The Wampanoag Tribe purchased Alley’s General Store and is operating the business from the historic Alley’s building, which remains under the ownership of the Martha’s Vineyard Preservation Trust. And construction has begun on the Vineyard Haven public library addition, with only minimal grumbling from residents who are unenthusiastic about the $1.1 million cost to taxpayers.
For all the progress, 1998 was also a year of violence and calamity. In July, lifelong Islander Gary Moreis was fatally stabbed near his commercial garage in Oak Bluffs. Upon hearing the news, his father, Peter (Peter Pop) Moreis, a constable, school bus driver and former police officer, died of a heart attack. A suspect was arrested in the killing and is being held at the Edgartown jail. Police called it the first murder on Martha’s Vineyard in 20 years.
It was soon followed by what they called the second murder in 20 years. George DeSouza Centeio, who had moved to the Island recently, was stabbed last month in the Highlands area of Oak Bluffs. A suspect was arrested within the hour and also is being held at the Edgartown jail. Police believe the killing is drug related.
An employee at Nip ’n’ Tuck Farm this summer was shot in the head by another employee in a dispute over a woman. A 28-year-old West Tisbury man, Geoff Lacoy, lost control of his car and was killed after he crashed into trees off Tisbury’s Spring street; police believed the accident was alcohol related.
And a New Year’s Day drunken driving accident took the life of 17-year-old Ryan Mone of West Tisbury. He later was memorialized by his friends Peter and Bobby Farrelly through their movie There’s Something About Mary and in other, smaller ways within the Island community and among high school students.
“They’re taking it hard,” said his math teacher, Hannah Marton, shortly after the accident. “They probably would have taken any death hard, but you have to know that Ryan was smart, was handsome and was very kind. It’s so hard to come into the school and not have him here.”
Others who died this year include the Rev. Richard Bell, pastor emeritus of Trinity United Methodist Church in Oak Bluffs; Arnold M. Fischer, lifelong Island resident and farmer; and Fred Fisher, also a farmer, a longtime West Tisbury finance committee member and a parishioner at the Lambert’s Cove Church who loved to sing hymns.
Other deaths included Robert N. Ganz, a pediatrician, and Claire MacIntyre, his wife, who died within 24 hours of each other. Lois Mailou Jones, who was often described as the last major painter of the Harlem Renaissance, also died, as did the Rev. Thomas H. Lehmann, who ministered at three Island churches with “never a poor sermon, and often an excellent one,” in the words of one parishioner. LeRoy Erickson died in January; he was a dentist and a frequent participant at Edgartown town meetings, who once prefaced his remarks to voters with the comment: “I am going to say what I please.”
Harold (Ham) Luce, who used to farm the area around Sengekontacket Pond, died this year, as did Helen Mayhew, the widow of John Wesley Mayhew Sr.; Thomas C. Mendenhall, former chief executive officer of the hospital; George Mills, a poet; Francis E. (Sancy) Pachico, longtime educator; Richard J. Shannon, former Tisbury selectman; Robert L. Stutz, arbitrator and former Steamship Authority governor; Allen M. Shinn, a Navy veteran and a direct descendant of Gov. Thomas Mayhew; Lawrence Treat, the mystery writer; and Sydna White, an artist and patron of the arts.
Writer Dorothy West, who gained fame for her work during the Harlem Renaissance and the years since, died this year at 91. She was remembered not only for her writing, which won the admiration of people such as Hillary Rodham Clinton and the late Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, but also as a fun-loving resident of Oak Bluffs, who enjoyed summers with her many relatives and who, said her younger cousin Courtney Franklin, “was there to make sure that the days were long, and the school bell’s chime forgotten.”
People retired. Surgeon Charles Claydon left the hospital and moved to New Hampshire with plans of entering divinity school. Bert Combra of Oak Bluffs also ended decades of public life this summer, when he left his job as the town’s highway superintendent. Sheriff Christopher S. (Huck) Look retired and voters replaced him with his longtime deputy, Michael McCormack.
Tisbury School principal Al Campbell also resigned, a year earlier than he’d planned, citing the publicity that came with his arrest last year for drunken driving. After his resignation, the charge was reduced to negligent operation of a motor vehicle and was continued without a finding.
Unusual wildlife was spotted. A hermit warbler, the rarest bird in New England, was sighted last winter in the state forest. And, according to one account, a coyote was seen on the Island in September, although that sighting has been disputed by some environmental experts.
More thoroughly documented wildlife sightings took place in April, when a right whale, which is a federally protected species, was seen in waters near the Gay Head Cliffs, and in June, when a doe galloped through the Edgartown Yacht Club dining room.
The real estate market boomed. For fiscal 1998, which ended June 30, the land bank had recorded revenues that were 71 per cent higher than last year. The Island’s popularity has proven particularly attractive to golf developers, who recently have targeted three areas for potential golf resorts in Edgartown and Oak Bluffs. In one, Webb’s Camping Area in Oak Bluffs, town voters will have the option to foil the developers by taking the land through eminent domain at a town meeting this month.
The Island’s popularity also brought pressure on the Steamship Authority to establish a new freight port for shipments of construction materials, food and other cargo. New Bedford politicians are actively campaigning to become a third SSA port, but some Island leaders are concerned about the economic costs of such a shift.
There were political coups. Leslie Leland unseated longtime county commissioner John Alley in the November election. A longtime critic of the Oak Bluffs selectmen, John W. Leite 3rd, unseated an incumbent member of the board, Barbara Houtman. Warren Doty came close to ousting Chilmark selectman Alex Preston, but failed. Michael Hebert of Aquinnah did better, tying with longtime selectman David Vanderhoop in the spring election. When another election was held, Mr. Hebert won.
New traditions began. Habitat for Humanity of Martha’s Vineyard, a charitable organization dedicated to securing decent and affordable shelter for Island residents, acquired its first parcel of land. Gay Head officially became Aquinnah, in accordance with a vote last year. And the Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Society, for the first time, planned an extended four-day annual fair that lasted through a Sunday, rather than just Saturday. And, as part of a new system, Chilmark residents had to flash a photo ID to get onto exclusive Lucy Vincent Beach.
Awards were bestowed. Arthur Wortzel was honored for his work for Martha’s Vineyard Community Services. Rafe Mazer was the regional high school valedictorian. Ann Scotten was teacher of the year.
And gifts were given. Twelve nurses were such excellent caregivers to a patient at the hospital, he donated $100,000 for a fund to be set up for nurses.
The nurses are Robin Chadwick, Beth Judge, Mary Heitl, Ann Burt, Linda Fischer, Gladys Welch, Fay Sosa, Lauren Hoehn, Sue Carroll, Judy Stearns, Anna Alley and Pat Dusa. The patient was Don Davis of Chilmark, who was at the hospital for babesiosis.
Mr. Davis wrote, in a letter to the hospital, that while the hospital does indeed have physical shortcomings, they are insignificant because of the quality of care.
“These physical shortcomings are of zero importance compared to the true nurturing and care shown by your nursing staff which, in my experience, the big city hospitals can’t touch,” he said. “My thanks to 12 great nurses who did some wonderful nurturing.”
Vineyard Gazette librarian Eulalie Regan assisted with research for this story.
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