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
September 23, 2008
Big Striper Seals Top Spot
It was a full house at derby headquarters Wednesday night. There were anglers bringing fish from all over the Island, there was a movie playing in Edgartown, but a seal managed to steal the early show at the water’s edge.
A Seal and a Surprise Catch
There is an official derby seal. Or, it could be more than one. Derby enthusiasts who go and weigh in their fish from 8 to 10 p.m. at the foot of Main street in Edgartown have noticed a smart big seal swimming nearby. Derby president Ed Jerome thinks the seal may be the same one…
Breaking News: Tuesday, 2:30 pm – Outerland Nightclub Will Close
Outerland, the 29-year-old Vineyard nightclub that got a new lease on life less than three years ago, is up for sale, its books awash in red ink despite an outward appearance of success with a varied live entertainment scene. “We gave it a great, great try,” said club owner Barry Rosenthal on Tuesday. Mr. Rosenthal…
Fisher Poet
Enthusiasm for fishing runs rampant at the derby weigh station. Anglers will tell their stories. Occasionally someone sneaks in and posts a note or a drawing on the old building. This morning a poem was posted on the wall, written by R. Gross:
I’m a fisherman can’t you see. That’s all I really…
Middle Road Regulars Speed to School
A Chilmark police report on Middle Road traffic is in and the results are not flattering: of the 14,500 vehicles clocked in a 13-day period last June on the road which stretches from Beetlebung corner into West Tisbury, more than 87 per cent were speeding. According to police chief Timothy Rich, who presented the data…
Chilmark Voters Reject Home Port Purchase
Occupying almost every available seat in the Chilmark Community Center, voters rejected a $2 million purchase of the Home Port restaurant at a special town meeting last night, flouting months of effort on the part of selectmen to acquire the Menemsha restaurant and surrounding property for public use. As a result of last night’s vote,…
For Big Fishermen, the Big Bass Beckon
Larger striped bass moved closer to shore in the past weekend, as the 63rd annual Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby entered its second week. The month-long fishing contest continues through Saturday, Oct. 18.
The Soul Doctors to Host Second Triathlon for Kids
The Soul Doctors are hosting the Second Vineyard Triathlon for Kids and Teams on Saturday, Sept. 27. There will be categories for different age groups and for teams, with very small courses beginning in Lagoon Pond and looping around Hines Point. Those wishing to have a parent or peer go with them, or those who…
Dennis Lehane Captivates With Boston Cops Novel
Dennis Lehane took a piece of Boston history, the stuff of legend in the city’s neighborhoods for nearly 90 years, and has written it as an epic novel. Called The Given Day, the novel will be released today by William Morrow. Readers who grew up, as this reviewer did, listening to the old tads talking…
Shark Tournament Foes Seek Investigation
Following an investigation into the Oak Bluffs Monster Shark Tournament in July that included undercover surveillance and videotaping, the Humane Society of the United States announced yesterday that it had evidence of high-stakes illegal gambling activities occurring during the controversial fishing tournament. The society, which opposes the tournament, has sent a letter to Massachusetts Attorney…
Big Schooners Sail to Victory
It was a day for schooners at the annual Pat West gaff-rigged and schooner race on Saturday. Twelve boats competed, and when it was all over, three big schooners took the top prizes. Jim Lobdell of the well-known 42-foot Alden schooner Malabar II was the winner overall. Second place went to the 65-foot Island-built Juno,…
Rousing Standing Ovation For Rep. Eric Turkington
By PHYLLIS MERAS M ore than 150 friends and supporters of retiring State Rep. Eric T. Turkington honored him with a farewell party at the Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Society Hall in West Tisbury Sunday afternoon. Mr. Turkington, who has represented the Cape and Islands for the last 20 years, is stepping down to run for…
Tuesday Chronicle: Seamanship
From the Vineyard Gazette editions of September, 1933: Cap’n Harty Bodfish, slayer of seals, sea-otter, reindeer and right whales, leaned out of the offshore window of Cromwell’s store and took in the details of a yacht race. Beside him stood the hardware salesman from the far west, and sundry others, actually listening as if expecting…
Letters to the Editor
AIRPORT ADVERTISING Editors, Vineyard Gazette: The following letter was sent to the Martha’s Vineyard Airport Commission: The presentation by Luxury Media Partners to place advertising both outside and inside the airport terminal seems to have some merit in that would generate some income for the airport. There are, however, substantial detriments which it appears you…
Autumn Arrives
Autumn Arrives
Gone Fishing: Blog On
Gone Fishing: Blog On It was pioneering filmmaker Robert Altman who described his love of fishing in these words: “You put that line in the water and you don’t know what’s on the other end. Your imagination is under there.” In the same spirit, the Gazette is casting online with a derby blog, fishing for…
One Cottage, So Much History
One Cottage, So Much History The Oak Bluffs historical commission is right to speak out frankly in the matter of the Harmon cottage demolition in the Camp Ground. The chain of events that led to what the town building inspector is calling a progressive demolition are a little unclear, as are the lines of authority.…
The Road to Galveston Will Show at Federated Church
The Federated Church of Edgartown will hold a free movie night on Thursday, Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. in the Parish House on South Summer street. The film being shown is The Road to Galveston, based on a true story and starring Cicely Tyson. The movie is the story of a woman who loses her…
Harvest Moon Brings Fall Bounty
The Sept. 15 sun went down in one blazing ball and after the last bit of color was gone, the crowds gathered on Lambert’s Cove Beach brushed the sand from their bottoms and turned around to go home. And then a brilliant harvest moon rose to rival the sunset.
Tribe Buys, Blesses New Tri-Town Ambulance
Chief medicine man Luther T. Madison blessed the latest ambulance of the tri-town fleet in a ceremony held on the lawn of the tribal administration building on Sept. 17. Present were tribal members, members of tribal council, tribal staff, tri-town emergency medical technicians, Aquinnah selectmen, Aquinnah fire chief Walter Delaney and Aquinnah police chief Randhi…
Ballet Moves
Ballet Moves Martha’s Vineyard School of Ballet has moved. The new location, with professional barres, mirrors and ballet floor, is at Camp Jabberwocky on Greenwood avenue in Vineyard Haven. Classes begin Monday, Sept. 29. All students perform in The Nutcracker on Island. To register, call 508-693-0023
Major Engine Room Fire on Ferry Halts High-Speed Service to Hyannis Until May
The Vineyard will lose Hy-Line Cruises’ high-speed ferry connection to Hyannis for the remainder of the season, following a major fire aboard the vessel Lady Martha last week. Hy-Line vice president for marketing Philip Scudder said yesterday there was no way the damaged ferry could be back in service before the end of the season,…
SSA Budget: No Fare Increase Planned
Following a tense few months for the Steamship Authority, things were palpably more relaxed at the boat line September board meeting: fuel prices were retreating and with them the prospect of fare increases or service cuts. And there was the happy prospect of a half million dollar windfall. SSA management told the board the boat…
Aquinnah Building Ban Lifted as Energy Bylaw Is Redrawn
Aquinnah gave up on an energy district of critical planning concern which gave the town the ability to pass its own municipal energy regulations when the Martha’s Vineyard Commission voted to rescind the special status last Thursday. A moratorium on building which accompanied the energy district is now lifted. Meanwhile, selectman Camille Rose told the…
Saluting West Tisbury Town Hall: Splinters, School Days and All
The old West Tisbury town hall — a tall, 1870 mansard-roofed building that stands proudly between the Grange Hall and the Congressional Church — is ready for her makeover. Up until last week she was still the center of the community, but time has clearly taken its toll on the three-story, high-ceilinged building that formerly…
A Scup, a Sea Robin and a T-Shirt: Kids’ Derby Reels In a Good Time
More than 200 children showed up at the Oak Bluffs Steamship Authority wharf on Sunday morning and not one of them left the Island. The gathering was for the annual Kids’ Day derby, an early morning fishing contest which recognizes that fishing starts with the young and can last a lifetime. For two hours the…
Time Out: Warring Sides Seek Bradley Square Peace Accord
In another abrupt change of course, backers of the Bradley Square project announced on Thursday that they would attempt to find common ground through a new committee made up of people on both sides of the project. “It has always been our mission to create housing that is affordable within the context of thoughtful community…
Community Services Plan Looks To Improve Programs, Funding
Growth is on the horizon for Martha’s Vineyard Community Services, the largest human service provider on the Island. A new strategic plan released this week announced plans for increased funding, larger facilities and expanded programs. “The strategic plan is something we’ve put a lot of time and thought into,” community services executive director Julia Burgess…
