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
February 15, 2008
Vineyard Women Reach Out to Help Poverty-Stricken Haitian Residents
A 10-year-old Vineyard project to raise money for disadvantaged in Haiti reached a milestone this year. The locally funded Haiti Fish Farm Project has raised more than $100,000. Haiti is the poorest country in this hemisphere. Margaret Penicaud of Vineyard Haven and her close friend Jeanne Staples of Edgartown have been working closely with others…
Three Seek Selectman’s Position In West Tisbury
Three candidates will run in April for the West Tisbury selectman’s seat currently held by chairman Glenn R. Hearn. Richard Knabel, a member of the town finance committee, and James Powell, town representative on the Martha’s Vineyard Commission, have taken out nomination papers, as has Mr. Hearn who is seeking reelection. Mr. Knabel publicly declared…
Chilmark
JANE N. SLATER 508-645-3378 (slaterjn@comcast.net) It is with much sadness that we report the death on Sunday last of Robert N. Flanders of Menemsha. He was most closely associated with the water and for many years was a familiar fisherman in Menemsha. His roots go deep in Chilmark and he was a respected and hard…
Independent Report Finds Trash Disposal on Island Is Inefficient and Costly
A new report prepared for the Martha’s Vineyard Refuse Disposal and Resource Recovery District recommends that Tisbury and Oak Bluffs rejoin the district after a 15-year absence and suggests that the Island consider a larger, more efficient regional transfer station and overhaul its recycling programs.
Vineyard Girls’ Lacrosse Team Will Play Matches in England
In April the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School girls’ lacrosse team has a trip of a lifetime planned. Fifteen student athletes from this year’s team will be proud representatives of the Island community as they compete internationally playing lacrosse against the best high school teams in England.
Backlash
Backlash In a strange and disturbing turn, much of the emotion aroused over a fatal Vineyard traffic accident in late January has shifted from grief over the young woman who died to an outpouring of anger and resentment against the Island’s Brazilian community. A Brazilian native, Francellyo Dias, was driving a delivery van when it…
Town Considers How to Spend Ferry Fees
The town of Tisbury collected $240,000 from the 50-cent levy paid by most passengers on ferry tickets last year and an embarkation fee committee, formed this year in response to controversy over past spending ideas, is in the process of developing final recommendations for where the money should go. The committee will take its decisions…
Planets
While Wednesday night’s lunar eclipse will dominate the news in the coming week, observers also will have the rare opportunity throughout the week to view five planets in the evening and early morning sky.
School Bond, Town Obligation
School Bond, Town Obligation The regional high school district committee was correct to rescind its vote on the sewage treatment bond issue once it came to light that Island towns had not been properly informed of their right to vote on the matter.
Will the Clinton Years Return Again?
It was a time when the boats were full, business was bustling and the Island seemed like the center of the universe — at least for a few weeks each summer. The span between 1993 to 2000 was when former President Bill Clinton made the Island the site of the summer White House. In local…
Welcome Shilah
Welcome Shilah Leanna Fisher and Joel Trott of Edgartown announce the birth of a daughter, Shilah Michelle Trott, born on Feb. 7. Shilah weighed 7 pounds, 15 ounces at birth.
Winter Sunshine
Winter Sunshine Enrichment is indeed alive and well at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School where the education programs reach well beyond the traditional academic confines. Here are three examples: Six students at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School were honored for excellence in art work this week as winners in the prestigious Boston Globe…
Police Cite Speed as Factor in Fatality
Oak Bluffs police said this week that Brandy Marie Gibson, the 20-year-old Island woman who was killed in a two-car motor vehicle accident, was driving more than twice the legal speed limit when her vehicle hit a delivery truck at the intersection of Edgartown-Vineyard Haven and County Roads on Jan. 29.
Lunar Eclipse Will Occur On Wednesday Evening
By MARK ALAN LOVEWELL
Wednesday night offers Vineyarders a lunar eclipse perfectly timed for observing. The full moon rises in the eastern sky just as the sun sets at about 5:04 p.m. and the best part of the show is five hours later.
One can only hope that the weather…
Letters to the Editor
MISS MY PAPA Editors, Vineyard Gazette: Many people told me in the past few weeks that my grandfather, Peter Williamson, was a great guy and very respected. They said when he was the chief he was known for helping people. I am too young to know about those years. I knew him as my Papa.…
School Fair Draws Aspiring Scientists
Blood stain patterns. Paint ball accuracy and temperature. Snail behavior and water acidity. These were just a few of the topics picked by students at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School for the ninth annual science fair, held at the high school cafeteria and library last Saturday. Over 200 students participated in this year’s competition…
Vision Appraisal Defends Its Methods on Tax Assessments
A growing group of West Tisbury taxpayers, furious at their property tax bills and concerned about how the taxes are computed, received little solace during a stormy two-hour informational meeting with Vision Appraisal Technology on Tuesday evening at the Howes House. p>
Study Group Advises Keeping Seven County Commissioners
With three months left to complete their 18-month study of county government, the Dukes County charter study commission last Thursday voted to recommend the county retain a seven-member commission. “I think seven works well,” said study group member and former county commissioner Linda Sibley of West Tisbury.
His Was Familiar Face Rarely Photographed
Anyone can buy a boat, a quahaug rake and a shellfish permit and go quahaugging. And anyone can use a rod and reel to catch a fish. But it is a rare person who can scratch a living as a fisherman, from youth through middle age and do it with the spirit and dedication of…
Winners Listed from 9th Annual Science Fair
Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School is proud to announce its 9th annual science fair winners: Grand Winners of the Science Fair Dr. James Porter Award First Place: Naomi Scott, Fruit Fly Don’t Bother Me — Study of Non-Organic and Organic Fruits’ Effect on Drosophila Melanogaster. Second Place: Caitlyn Francis, How Much Mercury Is Really in…
For This Team, Winning Is Not Gold Standard
BreAnne Russell, sophomore forward on the high school girls’ hockey team, aptly sums up her love of the game by comparing it to a well-known circular food item.
Chappy
MARGARET KNIGHT 508-627-8894 (margaret02539@yahoo.com) Last week’s potluck at the community center was well-attended and the food was delicious, as usual. Annie Heywood brought a homemade lemon meringue pie. After dinner was over, Chappy’s recorder group — Hatsy Potter, Liz Villard and Claire Thacher — had a practice session while a few others sat around the…
Gazette Chronicle: Snowbound
Snowbound By Joseph B. Elvin, one-time member of the Lambert’s Cove community, and occasional contributor to the Gazette. From the Vineyard Gazette editions of May, 1952:
North Shore Walk
North Shore Walk The Trustees of Reservations will sponsor a walk in Chilmark on a private parcel covered by a conservation restriction on Sunday, Feb. 17 from 1 to 3 p.m. The walk is free to members of The Trustees and $15 for non-members. No dogs are allowed. Reservations are required, as space is limited.…
Investigation Determines Grenade Isn’t Dangerous
A team of emergency responders, including members of the state police bomb squad, were called in after a grenade was found in a storage unit at the Sun Island Storage in Vineyard Haven on Feb. 5. Despite some tense moments, authorities eventually determined the grenade was not a threat and likely a novelty item or…
Edgartown
KATHIE CASE 508-627-5349 (kcase1@verizon.net) I am sitting looking out at the kids going to school all bundled up. I can’t help thinking that if it had snowed yesterday we would not even see our neighbor’s house and the kids would be out sledding. How fun would that be?
Preserving High School Arts Funding
There appears to be a misconception in the com munity about the outcome of efforts to prevent cuts in the performing arts department at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School for the next academic year. I am writing to offer some clarification and to ask for your help.
Dukes County Youth Task Force Hires Coordinator
The Dukes County Health Council Youth Task Force has hired Theresa Manning, who long has worked with children and families on the Vineyard, as youth task force coordinator. The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office recently awarded the task force a one-year, $90,000 grant. The grant will be used to target seventh and eighth grade students and…
Aquinnah Postpones Decision On Affordable Housing Lots
Aquinnah voters this week agreed to create the town’s first personnel board and employee classification system but indefinitely postponed a vote on creating four additional affordable housing units. The action came at a special town meeting on Tuesday night in the Aquinnah town hall.
Oak Bluffs
HOLLY NADLER 508-693-3880 (sunporch@vineyard.net) Who knew? Who knew that last Friday, Feb. 8 was Nirvana Day? This was itemized in my Pema Chodron calendar as an official Buddhist holiday. You won’t find this notated in mainstream American calendars, but if more of us had received a heads-up, we could have been walking around in states…
Sultan of Baseball, Sultan of Swing: A Babe Story
What is it with this pot-bellied, moon-faced guy Babe Ruth? What makes him remembered so vividly to this day? It was summed up best by an old teammate reminiscing years ago about the Babe. “He was a constant source of joy,” the old man said. — Robert Creamer, Hall of Fame Magazine.com
How…
Globe Honors Island School Artists
Six students from the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School Visual Arts Department have been honored at the annual Boston Globe Scholastic Art Awards, including one who earned a Gold Key, the highest honor. “There are a ton of competitions out there, but this is the big one we focus on every year,” said Paul Brissette,…
Gazette Collects 14 Awards In Regional Press Contest
The Vineyard Gazette won 14 awards for excellence in journalism at the New England Press Association annual better newspaper competition, including five first place awards. The awards were given out on Saturday night at a dinner at the Marriott Copley in Boston. The competition included more than 5,000 entries from more than 300 small newspapers…
Vineyard Haven
NANCY GARDELLA 508-693-3308 (vhavenvgazette@yahoo.com) I have witnessed two sure signs of spring: my snow drops are blooming and Pam Benjamin is rounding the Chop on her roller blades. The end of February also brings the high school musical. While I love many shows, A Chorus Line is one of my absolute favorites. The show debuted…
Sophomores Speak Out
Hi, I’m Troy Small, this week’s Sophomores Speak Out editor. We are bringing a lot of new thoughts to the table this week. We’re talking about racism in our school and community, how teenagers deal with winter on the Island, how transportation is really hard for sophomores who have not got their licenses yet, school…
Sail MV Dinner
Sail MV Dinner
Animal Rights Activists Renew Call to End Shark Tournament
In what is fast becoming a winter tradition, opponents of the Oak Bluffs Monster Shark Tournament appeared before Oak Bluffs selectmen Tuesday to again ask that the town end its involvement with the controversial sport fishing tournament held each summer.
Hello, Caleb
Hello, Caleb Juliette and Matthew Lopatka of Vineyard Haven announce the birth of a son, Caleb Francis Lopatka, born Feb. 4 at the Martha’s Vineyard Community Hospital. Caleb weighed 6 pounds, 12 ounces at birth.
Menemsha Development Fund Launches 2008 Fisheries Series
The Menemsha fisheries development fund will kick off its 2008 program series at the Chilmark Public Library on Wednesday, Feb. 20 with two documentary films looking at traditional fishing communities impacted by declining fish stocks, changing regulations and the loss of a way of life.
Cancer Society Prepares Annual Daffodil Effort
It’s that time of year. The American Cancer Society campaign to raise funds through the sale of daffodils is up and running. Dorothy Bangs and her volunteers will be around soon to take orders from many Island businesses and schools. If you are a business we’ve missed over the years, please help us out and…
Island Land Bank Grows Sepiessa Point Holdings
The purchase of an 18.9-acre conservation restriction last week will expand the Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank’s holdings at Sepiessa Point Reservation on the Tisbury Great Pond. The land bank commission announced that it paid $654,500 for the restriction. The seller is Elizabeth Brown Bayer. The property includes 2,180 feet of frontage on Tiah’s Cove, and…
Isaac Arrives
Isaac Arrives Andrea Suter and Stephen Barr of Vineyard Haven announce the birth of a son, Isaac Suter Barr, born on Jan. 8 at the Martha’s Vineyard Community Hospital. Isaac weighed 6 pounds, 8 ounces at birth.
Permanent Endowment Is Open to Grant Applicants
The Permanent Endowment Fund, the Island’s community foundation, is seeking grant requests from not-for-profit organizations and public agencies for grants from the general discretionary fund, the Island Fund, the James P. Cahen Fund and the Goldberg Fund. Grants from the general discretionary fund and Island Fund are for nonprofit (501(c)(3)) organizations primarily for capital, startup…
Affordable Homes Will Be Sold Through Lottery
Affordable Homes Will Be Sold Through Lottery Nine two and three-bedroom affordable single-family houses, now under construction on the newly named Jenney Lane between Curtis and Pine streets in Edgartown, will be sold in May. The houses will be sold to households earning no greater than 80, 100, 120, and 140 per cent of the…
Announcing Leah
Announcing Leah Nicole and Joseph deBettencourt of Oak Bluffs announce the birth of a daughter, Leah Nicole de Bettencourt, born Jan. 31 at the Martha’s Vineyard Community Hospital. Leah weighed 6.9 pounds at birth.
West Tisbury
JOHN S. ALLEY 508-693-2950 (alleys@vineyard.net)
Named Chevalier
Named Chevalier Donald R. Hart, a part-time Vineyard Haven resident and a former resident of Harthaven and Chilmark, has been named a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor by the president of the French Republic. The award was given by France in gratitude for Mr. Hart’s contribution to the decisive role played by the United…
Sleet Discoveries
I learned a hard lesson last Sunday. It was about two hours into my research and half an hour into the writing of this week’s column when I came across a disturbing fact. Hail occurs in the spring and summer. Normally this fact would not perturb me, but thinking I was nearing the end of…
Leaky Courthouse Roof Needs Replacing
Repairs to the Dukes County courthouse roof could cost the county $148,000 at a time when the county commission is cutting regional services and scaling back expenditures. The roof has been leaking since a storm in early winter, and at times water was seeping into the courthouse lights.
Dean’s List
Dean’s List Michael C. Pachico, son of Charles and Kim Pachico of Chilmark, has been listed on the dean’s list of Bridgewater State College in the School of Arts and Science for the fall 2007 semester.
Agency Promotion
Agency Promotion Martha’s Vineyard Insurance Agency Inc. and Lambert Insurance Agency Inc. have promoted Irene Resendes to office manager of their Oak Bluffs location. Ms. Resendes joined the Martha’s Vineyard Insurance Agency as a customer service representative in 1984. She most recently served as an office supervisor specializing in commercial insurance. In her new role…
The Fish Crow Cah-ah
Which is it, a short nasal cah-ah or a full-voiced caaw? That is the question that will help distinguish between the unusual fish crow and the ubiquitous American crow.
Vineyard Farmers and Students Team Up for Tasty Local Meal
It was not the slamming of lockers or the shouts of students that filled the hallways of the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School Monday night. It was the sweet smell of roasting garlic. Hastily drawn signs with arrows pointing toward the culinary arts department were few and far between. But had they plastered the halls,…
Avery Ann Arrives
Avery Ann Arrives Nancy Bruguiere Morris and Edward Morris of Wayland announce the birth of a daughter, Avery Ann, who was born on Jan. 8. She weighed 8 pounds, 7 ounces. She was 20 inches long. She is the granddaughter of Bob and Judy Bruguiere of Edgartown and George and Mary Morris of Stuart, Fla.…
Temperatures
Temperature: Precip. Day Max. Min. Inches. Fº Fº Feb. 8 39 32 .00 Feb. 9 44 27 Trace Feb. 10 48 36 .05 Feb. 11 50 13 Trace Feb. 12 26 16 Trace Feb. 13 49 22 .13 Feb. 14 52 32 1.07
Water temperature in Edgartown harbor: 43º F.
The Vineyard Gardener
By LYNNE IRONS I have had five memorable dogs. Each has lived over a decade and a half. My all-time favorite was Emma Jones, the beagle of my childhood. After college and moving to the Vineyard, I found Emily, who was also a white beagle mutt. She helped me raise my little children. Larry, a…
Announcing Gustavo
Announcing Gustavo Simone Chaves Riso and Alessandro Goncalves of Oak Bluffs announce the birth of a son, Gustavo Chaves Goncalves, born on Feb. 9. Gustavo weighed 6 pounds, 15 ounces at birth.
Aquinnah
JUNE D. MANNING 508-645-2574 (lthslnks@gis.net) A Chorus Line will be presented this evening at 7 by the Performing Arts Department at the Performing Arts Center at Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School. Tickets are $7 for seniors and students, and $10 for adults. If you missed opening night on Valentine’s Day, you will have the opportunity…
Dean’s List
Dean’s List Several Vineyard students attending the University of Massachusetts at Boston have been named to the dean’s list for the fall 2007 semester. They are Wendy Gibson and Kelly Walden of Edgartown, and Lauren Barlosky, Alicia Maciel and Ashley Spinney of Vineyard Haven.
