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
September 26, 2008
News Update: Monday, September 29 – Memorial Gathering Tuesday for Pilot David Willey
An experienced Cape Air pilot and Vineyard Haven resident was killed on Friday night in single plane crash in the woods off State Road in West Tisbury. It was the first fatal Cape Air crash in the history of the airline.
Rain Enhances Daily Prize Chances
Eric F. Pachico stepped out of the heavy rain carrying a large striped bass this morning. It was 8:42 a.m., the derby headquarters had been open since 8 a.m., but he was the first angler with a fish. The heavy rain began this morning at 6 a.m., and in two hours already half an inch…
Postcards from the Great White Way
The Great White Way, on Oak Bluffs avenue between Sea View and Lake avenues, was the heart of the summer resort’s entertainment area. Its evolution can be traced in a group of postcards from the first quarter of the 20th century.
Workshop Aims at Parents of Special Needs Students
Ellen Chambers of the nonprofit group SPEDWatch will conduct a workshop titled Basic Rights: Denied on Monday, Sept. 29 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Manor House School of Cape Cod in South Dennis. The workshop is suitable for those whose children already receive special education services, and for those who feel their child…
Bring Some Magic Into a Life
Want to bring a little magic into the life of a child? Big Brothers Big Sisters needs people like you. Volunteer today to be a Big Brother or Big Sister to a kid who could use an adult friend in his or her life. Call 888-412-BIGS, or visit bbbs.org.
Red State, Blue State, Why Not Two States?
In his first State of the Union speech, Abra ham Lincoln declared that “the Union must be preserved.” One hundred and forty-seven years later, I ask, “Must it really?” As a fairly progressive Democrat, I’ve made a point in the last year to listen to as much Rush Limbaugh as Air America, to watch as…
No Fish For Me
I arose before dawn. Raced to my favorite fishing spot. The shore by the Vineyard Haven bridge. I cast from 5 to 6 a.m. No fish. But I did see the 6 a.m. ferry depart. Not a great start.
I was joined by a fisherman Really dressed to fish. Every item of clothing…
Letters to the Editor
SACRED COW Editors, Vineyard Gazette: Reading about Bradley Square brings me back to fairly recent history on Martha’s Vineyard. Remember when the golf wars dominated the headlines, and allegations of conflict of interest assaulted the Martha’s Vineyard Commission and the Island conservation community?
Gazette Chronicle: Tending Their Flocks
Tending Their Flocks From earlier Gazette editions: It is recorded that when Major General Sir Charles Grey made his raid upon the Vineyard during the Revolution he requisitioned 10,000 sheep and 300 oxen, together with hay for them. Apparently 10,574 sheep were actually supplied, under duress, to the British, the quotas of the different towns…
Winner Takes Small at High Stakes Birthday
As a man who is so bad at games of chance that I was once beaten in blackjack by my dog, I never thought I would be a high roller at a casino. That is why I had never been to a casino until I recently visited Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn., where I defied…
Asters to Call Our Own
Asters to Call Our Own They come out just when the summer people go home, as if on cue for the Islanders who stop working so much and are out and about for fall walks and swims in the still-warm ocean. They are the New England asters, sturdy, long-blooming and marked by more varieties than…
Caught Speeding
Caught Speeding
Something to Celebrate
Something to Celebrate As well-resourced men and women from Washington and Wall Street jockeyed this week for a multi-billion-dollar bailout, a band of earthy Vineyarders was busy preparing a festival about living local. This ironic juxtoposition is an accident of timing, of course; still, the broader economic crisis does concentrate the mind on those aspects…
East Chop
RICK HERRICK 508-693-8065 (herricklr@verizon.net) East Chop said goodbye to Ted Burnham on Saturday, Sept. 20, at a lovely party hosted by his wife Wendy, her longtime friend Kathy Grugan from West Grove, Pa., and several neighbors. Ted died of lymphomic cancer on August 22nd following a four-year struggle with this horrible disease.
Temperatures
Temperature: Precip. Day Max. Min. Inches. Fº Fº Sept. 19 71 55 .00 Sept. 20 64 54 .00 Sept. 21 68 48 .00 Sept. 22 76 55 .00 Sept. 23 70 56 .00 Sept. 24 66 55 .00 Sept. 25 66 56 .00
Water temperature in Edgartown harbor: 66º F.
Benjamin Arrives
Benjamin Arrives Jessica and Joshua Burgoyne of Edgartown announce the birth of a son, Benjamin Beckett Burgoyne, born on Sept. 16, 2008 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Benjamin weighed 6 pounds, 4 ounces at birth.
Episcopal Confirmation
Episcopal Confirmation On Sunday, Sept. 28, the Right Rev. Roy Cederholm, the Suffragan Bishop of Massachusetts, will visit St. Andrew’s Church in Edgartown. Bishop Cederholm will preach at services at 8 and 10 a.m.. He will preside at the rite of confirmation at 10 a.m. during which seven parish young people will be confirmed into…
West Tisbury
JOHN S. ALLEY 508-693-2950 (alleys@vineyard.net) September has slipped away as quick as you can say Jack Frost. We know he is waiting just around the corner but it doesn’t seem possible with this beautiful Indian summer weather. Folks are busy harvesting the last of their vegetables, and berries for canning, and settling into their fall…
Vineyard Haven
NANCY GARDELLA 508-693-3308 (vhavenvgazette@yahoo.com)
Chilmark
JANE N. SLATER 508-645-3378 (slaterjn@comcast.net) Many Chilmarkers turned out on Monday night to have their say about whether or not the town should have bought the Home Port. By now, the result is history. It was a lively debate and our moderator, Everett Poole, ably guided us through it all. Please be advised that The…
Oak Bluffs
HOLLY NADLER 508-687-9239 (hollynadler@gmail.com) To borrow from Rudyard Kipling, when you can keep your head when all around you are losing theirs, that would mark a successful summer in Oak Bluffs. Before we fully commit our hearts and minds to the cooler seasons, we might wish to look back on the hot season of 2008…
Edgartown
KATHIE CASE 508-627-5349 (kathleencase@comcast.net) Happy fall. I love this weather. It is warm during the day so you can wear short sleeves or long and the nights are cool and nice for sleeping. Who could ask for better?
Chappy
MARGARET KNIGHT 508-627-8894 (margaret02539@yahoo.com) September is one of Chappaquiddick’s spectacular months. There is a bit of fall in the air, but the sun is hot enough to enjoy the beach. The ocean has cooled but is still swimmable for heartier bathers. The beetlebung leaves are just starting to turn their deep red color, and the…
Aquinnah
JUNE MANNING 508-645-2574 (lthslnks@gis.net) Ken Kaufman and his wife, Corinne Majno, renewed their wedding vows on Monday at their family home overlooking Vineyard Sound. The service was performed by Rev. Michael Allen who was accompanied by his wife, Rev. Priscilla Allen. Corinne was simply gorgeous in her wedding gown. Guests enjoyed the early evening festivities…
Welcome, Jonathan
Welcome, Jonathan Suzanne and Chris Graham of Oak Bluffs announce the birth of a son, Jonathan Daniel Graham, born on Sept. 18, 2008 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Jonathan weighed 8 pounds, 4 ounces at birth.
Hello, Zachary
Hello, Zachary Jennifer Bettencourt and Kevin Biorci of Vineyard Haven announce the birth of a son, Zachary James Biorci, born on Sept. 18, 2008 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Zachary weighed 7 pounds, 15.2 ounces at birth.
Schools Superintendent Pledges No Increase in Budget This Year
MCAS test results, budget concerns, professional development and student enrollment were all topics for discussion at the first all-Island school committee meeting of the new school year.
Library Screens Debates
Library Screens Debates The Vineyard Haven Public Library will be showing the national debates. If you don’t have cable, want to watch with your friends and neighbors, or discuss the debates with others, the library will open the program room at 8:30 p.m. A debate is scheduled for tonight, Sept. 26; the others are on…
Fresh Festival Harvests Home-Grown Goodness from Clean, Green Living
Living locally is old news on Martha’s Vineyard. “That was the only way to go,” Chilmarker David Flanders said this week. Mr. Flanders has Vineyard roots which extend back generations and are deeply tied to the land. “The whole thing was always like that to be very honest,” he continued. “It’s an old-time solution.” This…
Cleaning Out the Basement? Dispose of Old Electronics
On Saturday, Sept. 27, between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., Martha’s Vineyard Community Services will host the fourth electronics disposal day in the agency’s parking lot at 111 Edgartown Road in Oak Bluffs (across from the high school). This event has provided residents of the Vineyard with a location where they can take their old,…
Democratic Council
Democratic Council The Democratic Council of Martha’s Vineyard invites its members and all interested Islanders to meet Dan Larkosh, the Democratic candidate-elect for state representative. Dan will speak at the council’s monthly meeting on Saturday, Sept. 27 at 9 a.m. at the Howes House in West Tisbury. For information, call 508-693-5100.
Moon and Anglers
A thin crescent moon appears close to the ringed planet Saturn low in the southeastern sky prior to sunrise tomorrow morning. Early morning risers will likely spot the two.
Oak Bluffs is Accepting CPA proposals
The Oak Bluffs Community Preservation Committee (CPC) announces that application forms are now available to request Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding for projects for historic preservation, affordable housing, and open space/recreation in 2009/2010. Requests for proposals will be accepted through Oct. 17, 2008. CPA funds are raised by a three percent surcharge on property taxes.
Kite Surfer Rob Douglas is Fastest Sailor in World
Rob Douglas, 37, son of Black Dog Tavern founder Capt. Robert Douglas, earned the title of fastest sailor in the world Monday by breaking the world kite surfing record with a speed of 49.84 knots. Mr. Douglas accomplished the feat while competing in the Speed World Cup, in a small African town famous for strong…
Football Home Opener Tonight As Sports Teams Notch Up Wins
In a game as thrilling as it was heartbreaking, the Carver Crusaders defeated the Vineyarders football team 23-21 on Friday night after scoring a game-tying touchdown and converting a two-point attempt with seconds left on the clock. The Vineyarders (1-1) had late game heroics of their own, scoring with 1:38 on the clock when Mike…
Hello, Max
Hello, Max Kelli and David Pecararo of Oak Bluffs announce the birth of a son. Max Pecararo, born on Sept. 22 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Max weighed 8 pounds 6 ounces at birth.
Bike Repair? Demonstration Shows It’s as Easy as Riding
Craig Hockmeyer, proprietor of Craig’s Cycles on State Road in Vineyard Haven, will demonstrate how to do essential bicycle maintenance and repair on Tuesday, Sept. 30, at 7 p.m. at the Vineyard Haven Public Library. Called Easy as Riding a Bike, the presentation will use environmental activist Mr. Hockmeyer’s own green machine, and there will…
Fly Away Home: Gus Ben David Releases Bald Eagle After Nursing It to Health
A juvenile bald eagle that has been in recovery for over a month was released back into the wild on Tuesday afternoon. Augustus Ben David, the owner of World of Reptiles and Bird Park in Edgartown, had cared for the animal for weeks after it was found disoriented and malnourished on a Chappaquiddick beach. Mr.…
Hunting Season Dates to Note
The hunting season for Canada geese ended yesterday after being open since Sept. 2. Hunting for pheasant opens on Saturday, Oct. 18., and ends on Nov. 29. The coastal duck season runs from Oct. 17 to Oct. 25. Cottontail rabbit season runs from Nov. 15 to Feb. 28. Archery deer season is from Oct. 13…
Noman’s Land Plan
Noman’s Land Plan On Oct. 14, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will hold an informational meeting about the Noman’s Land Island National Wildlife Refuge comprehensive conservation plan. The meeting will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Chilmark library. Members of the public will have the opportunity to meet the staff, learn…
Farm Neck Foundation Calls for Grant Applicants
The Farm Neck Foundation has issued a call for applicants for the foundation’s 2008 grants. All Island nonprofit organizations whose goal is to improve the quality of life in the Vineyard community are eligible.
Commission Denotes More Special Ways
The Martha’s Vineyard Commission last Thursday voted to include Checamo and Stoney Hill Paths in a special protection district that among other things will prevent them from being clear-cut and widened in the future. Commissioners voted 8-2 to include the two West Tisbury roads in the commission’s special ways district of critical planning concern.
Oak Bluffs Home Businesses Deliver Neighborhood Disputes
Trying to find a balance between encouraging small businesses and respecting homeowner rights, Oak Bluffs selectmen on Tuesday held a pair of public hearings on requests for home businesses in the middle of residential neighborhoods. The separate hearings were for a home photography studio owned by Joseph Mikos of 48 Vineyard avenue and a commercial…
Fishermen Weigh In On Debate Over Herring Ban
A moratorium on the taking of river herring, instituted three years ago because of dwindling stocks, appears set to be extended for another three years. A decision will not be announced until next Friday, but a public hearing attended by Vineyard fishermen last week made it clear the fishery was still far from recovered. Paul…
Lyme Disease Study Begins
With tick-borne diseases at epidemic levels on the Vineyard and the cause of growing concern as a public health threat here, the national Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has launched a controlled study of Lyme disease and tularemia in the Island Wampanoag population. The study is phase one in a three-year environmental health program for…
Shark Tournament Continues to Plague Oak Bluffs; Selectmen Refute Allegations
Oak Bluffs selectmen reacted with outrage this week to a video posted on a national animal rights group Web site that suggests members of the town police department had allowed an illegal betting operation to take place during the annual Monster Shark tournament.
Wind, High Seas, Rainy Forecast; Derby Fishermen Keep Catching
Foul weather predicted for this weekend may hinder but it won’t slow down the enthusiasts participating in the 63rd annual Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby. Fishing is at a fever pitch. Sloppy seas and a prevailing east-northeast breeze made the fishing tough this week. Nevertheless, at the Wednesday night derby weigh-in, the derby…
Pandemic Preparedness Plan Thrown Into Temporary Limbo
A plan that has been in the works for three years to establish the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School as an emergency center during a terrorist attack or outbreak of infectious disease hit a snag this week when concerns surfaced among Oak Bluffs leaders about the suitability of the site.
MCAS Scores Released; Most Vineyard Schools Are Strong Performers
Island educators began to analyze the good and less good news contained in the 2008 Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) scores released Wednesday, while they voiced continued frustration at what they say are unrealistic provisions in the federal Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for the tests. Some of the good news: all six Island schools met…
Struggling Nightclub Is Put Up for Sale
Less than three years after they bought the Vineyard’s premier music venue, the owners of the Outerland nightclub have been forced by mounting debts to put it back on the market. In a letter that went to creditors late last week, Barry Rosenthal, who is manager and co-owner of Outerland, said the club will close…
Beach Cleanup
Beach Cleanup On Saturday, Oct. 4, please join the Eastville Point beach committee in the removal of an invasive species from the Eastville Point beach bird sanctuary area, from 9 a.m. to noon. Spotted knapweed is taking hold at the beach and it is time for a volunteer effort to remove it and to prevent…
The Vineyard Gardener
By LYNNE IRONS If I could rename my perennial bed a meadow, I would feel smug in the knowledge that I was a raging success as a gardener. There must be something about this karma thing; how could a person get so far behind in one lifetime? I have learned to live with many of…
Lark Sparrow
Hey, in the world of bird watching there is nothing better than a bird that is easy to identify. And when you are dealing with sparrows it is particularly exciting. Most beginning birders barely even look at sparrows, claiming that they all look alike and they are just little brown jobs! This weekend we had…
Spiders that Fish
It’s derby time and the competition is fierce. But anglers aren’t the only ones out and about on the water; there is another land animal that likes to spend its time near water. Lucky for those that fish, this beast has a preference for fresh water. I, for one, would be a bit disturbed to…
Sept. 19: Partly Sunny
Friday, Sept. 19: Partly sunny. Clouds running along the horizon are threatening. Damp. The air smells of the ocean at South Beach in Edgartown. Rolling surf. Fishermen line the Norton Point opening. Breezy. Saturday, Sept. 20: Excellent visibility across Nantucket Sound. Large sailboats race in the annual gaff-rigged schooner race. Steady east-northeast wind brings choppy…
The Fishermen
By MARK ALAN LOVEWELL The best of the fin fishing season is far from over, but already attention shifts to the start of the bay scallop season. Oct. 1 was traditionally the start for the recreational season. Not so anymore, except in Edgartown.
Tax Helpers Needed, No Experience Required
AARP Tax-Aide, the nation’s largest free volunteer-run tax assistance and preparation service, is seeking Cape and Islands volunteers to be part of tax assistance and preparation and to become leadership coordinators. Volunteers of all ages and backgrounds are welcome; you do not have to be an AARP member or a retiree to volunteer.
Café Connoisseur’s Table Talk? Eat Together at Home, It’s Easy
Carol McManus, the owner of Espresso Love Café in Edgartown, wants you to eat more at home .
Living Local Harvest Festival Saturday Events
Living Local Harvest Festival Saturday Events Panel Forums 9 to 9:45 a.m. Waste, Recycling and Composting: Cleaning Up Our Act 10 to 10:45 a.m. Home Energy Options: What’s Right for You? 11 to 11:45 a.m. Thinking Big About Island Energy: What’s Right for Us? 12 to 12:45 p.m. Increasing Island Food Production: Connecting Farmers to…
Chicken Out? No, Try Out For Nancy Luce Musical
On Sunday, Sept. 28, there will be tryouts for two original one-act musicals about Vineyard history: Nancy Luce, The Musical was originally produced in the summer of 2007 as part of Children’s Theatre Workshop summer program, with a book by Dana Anderson and music by Linda Berg. An Island of Women, Life on the Vineyard,…
Singing Sensation Inspires Sensational Show
A couple of years before Tiny Tim tiptoed through the tulips of America’s oddball garden of novelty singers, Mrs. Elva Miller (1907–1997) of southern California sharpened our appetite for the camp pleasure of the over-warbled, excruciating and off-pitch note. Now in the world-premiere of Mrs. Miller Does Her Thing at the Vineyard Playhouse, Pulitzer Prize-winning…
Island Designer Lorraine Parish to Offer Fashion Class for Teens
Not many people get out of Huntsville, Alabama, fashion designer Lorraine Parish said knowingly.
Nancy Luce Show: Gallery Invites Artists to Exhibit
Artists wishing to participate in Treehouse Studios’ annual Nancy Luce show are invited to contact the gallery or submit works via e-mail to ruthadams1@comcast.net. Works in all media will be considered for the show, which will open in October at the gallery located on State Road in West Tisbury, opposite Up-Island Cronig’s market.
Be Part of Global Vote for Best Short Film
The Manhattan Short Film Festival (ManhattanShort.com) has selected 12 finalists now screening across four continents this week — including here, at Vineyard Haven’s Katharine Cornell Theatre on Saturday, Sept. 27 at 7:30 p.m. Island film lovers will have the opportunity to view and vote on the next generation of filmmakers. There were 429 entries from…
Chapter 19: Adventures in Hacking
In this serialized year-long novel set on the Vineyard in real time, a native Islander (“Call me Becca”) returns home after two decades to help her eccentric Uncle Abe keep his landscaping business, Pequot, afloat. Abe has a paranoid hatred of Richard Moby, the CEO of an off-Island wholesale nursery, Broadway. Convinced that Moby wants…
