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
July 30, 2010
Paint the Town Red, or Any Color You Like
The Louisa Gould Gallery is offering an oil painting workshop on Tuesday, August 3 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. with Christopher Pendergast.
The workshop will begin with a brief demonstration on starting a painting in oils including; set up, materials, laying out a palette, and choosing a subject matter. Blocking out space,…
Art for the Masses
Art for the Masses
Play It Again, David
Play It Again, David
Double Your Fun at Shaw Cramer Gallery
Shaw Cramer opens its third Double Feature special exhibit — presenting the art work of Leslie Baker and Eric Jensen in the main gallery with Elizabeth Lockhart Taft and Eileen Braun in the upper spotlight gallery — with an artists’ reception on Friday, July 30 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Peter Beinart Leads Talk: Crisis of Liberal Zionism
The Crisis of Liberal Zionism is the name of Peter Beinart’s lecture and discussion on Friday, August 6, at 6:30 p.m. following the 6 o’clock Shabbat service at the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center.
Mr. Beinart is a fellow at the New America Foundation and associate professor of journalism and political science at the…
Monk’s Muse: Film Tells Nica’s Story
Jazz Baroness, a 2009 documentary film, will be featured Sunday, August 1, in the summer Best of the Boston Jewish Film Festival series at the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center in Vineyard Haven.
Most jazz fans have heard of Baroness Pannonica Rothschild de Koenigswater, whether they realize it or not. Known familiarly as Nica,…
Traditional Chamber Music, Familiar Players at Concerts
George Frederic Handel’s Passacaglia, a duo for violin and string bass, will open the Martha’s Vineyard Chamber Music concerts on Monday, August 2 at the Whaling Church in Edgartown and Tuesday, August 3 at the Chilmark Community Center. Robert Schumann’s Marchenbilder for viola and piano, opus 113, Frederic Chopin’s Sonata in g-minor for cello and…
Chappaquiddick Summer Music Festival
The Chappaquiddick Summer Music Festival opens its 15th season on August 5 with a concert by the Amerigo Trio, featuring longtime New York Philharmonic concertmaster Glenn Dicterow, violist Karen Dreyfus and cellist Inbal Segev. The performance begins at 8 p.m. at the Chappaquiddick Community Center.
The program includes a Beethoven serenade, Kodaly’s Intermezzo…
Guinness Grape Catching Record Goes Down in 189 Great Gulps
By KATE FEIFFER
This one is for the record books. Literally. A few minutes after noon on Wednesday, Ashrita Furman officially set a new world record for the three-minute grape catch, having caught 189 grapes in his mouth. The event took place in the parking lot of the Bunch of Grapes Bookstore. Naturally.…
Little League All-Stars Hit the Road
Maybe you’ve seen them when you drive past Veira Park in Oak Bluffs or Nunes Field in Edgartown. You might have heard the metal clinks of their bats connecting with a fast-moving — relatively speaking, Dustin Pedroia would send it right over the fence — pitch, or maybe the booming voices of their coaches calling…
Vineyard Boys Win at Bay State Games
Vineyard Boys Win
At Bay State Games
On July 10, Reid and Justice Yennie of West Tisbury took home gold and silver respectively in the boys’ tennis singles at the Bay State Games in Harvard, making it two years in a row that Vineyarders have won Gold at the games.
…
Carl Hiaasen to Read at Bunch of Grapes
Anybody serving up a cocktail of vodka, Red Bull, Hydrocodone, birdseed and stool softener this weekend? No? Well, guess again, because Carl Hiaasen is coming to town and in his world, Miami of course, a drink like that is just for starters. In fact, his new novel Star Island begins with the sudden demise of…
Billionaire’s Book Club
Billionaire’s Book Club
Written in Water, Messages of Hope for Earth’s Most Precious Resource, is now on J.P. Morgan’s summer top ten reading list in the Billionaires’ Book Club. Written in Water was launched earlier this year by National Geographic and World Waterway on the island of Martha’s Vineyard with a water weekend…
Student Essayists Honor Della Hardman
By NAOMI PALLAS
Student Essayists Honor Della Hardman
By KRISTEN PARECE
Student Essayists Honor Della Hardman
By TESSA PERMAR
Teachable Moments on Race and Class
Just a year ago, we had what President Obama called a “teachable moment” in race relations. That was in the wake of the arrest of Henry Louis (Skip) Gates Jr., a well known Vineyard summer resident.
You remember it, of course. Professor Gates, probably the nation’s foremost black academic, was arrested in his…
Letters to the Editor
NOISE AT FIELD CLUB
Editors, Vineyard Gazette:
When the Field Club in Katama sought approval from the Martha’s Vineyard Commission, the owners offered up many conditions in addition to those set by the commission in their final decision to approve the project. From that point forward, compliance with those permit conditions…
Book Sale Binging is Good for the Head
Ah, the book sale of the West Tisbury library! It’s an annual feast for bibliophiles. This year I’ve got to be there right when the doors open. There was no telling what treasures I had missed out on last summer when, 10 or so minutes late, I joined the horde of book lovers. That’s the…
A Dream to Bridge the Gap
A Dream to Bridge the Gap
He was a shrewd charmer, the late Art Buchwald. A compelling raconteur and writer, he became renowned worldwide. This gave him enormous social capital, capital he was not afraid to use at home on the Vineyard, most notably every year as auctioneer for the Possible Dreams Auction…
Opera Dramaturg Finds Mozart’s Funnybone
Sure, Mozart created some of the most beautiful music ever written, but he also was a master of comic theatre. New York City Opera dramaturg Cori Ellison will talk about the composer’s collaborations with some of the funniest guys in the (18th century) business when she presents All Things Mozart, a lecture and discussion at…
Fair Entries Ready?
Fair Entries Ready?
The Agricultural Hall will be open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon beginning Monday, August 2 to accept entry forms for the 2010 fair. Also, members of the community who would like to volunteer or work at the fair may come to sign up to do so during…
Noman’s Land Shows Nature’s a Tough Lover
Accompanying the Fish and Wildlife Service, guardians of the island, on a visit to Noman’s Land Island National Wildlife Refuge.
Energizer Engineer Eyes Smart Money
Walk into a public meeting space at random this summer and you are likely to find Paul Pimentel evangelizing the good news of Vineyard Power. As the public face of the Island’s fledgling energy cooperative, Mr. Pimentel has waged a tireless campaign to recruit new members, barnstorming road and homeowners associations, private residences, coffee shops…
When the Island Needs You, All You Have to Do is Dream
Have you ever wanted to meet a real-life spy and ask her about the most dangerous situations she’s been in? Maybe you always wanted to drive an Indianapolis 500 race car? Or maybe all you’ve ever wanted is to be able to have a magical pass that gets you on to any beach on…
Oysters Galore in Tisbury Great Pond: Shellfish Biologists Rejoice at Comeback
Vineyard ponds may be in peril, but somebody forgot to tell that to the Tisbury Great Pond which is loaded with wild oysters this year, the biggest natural spawning of oysters in recent memory.
“It is huge,” said Rick Karney, who has been director of the Martha’s Vineyard Shellfish Group for over 30…
Filmmaker Doug Liman on Spies, Scripts, Squibby
For Doug Liman, directing is like navigating a class five river rapid. As you see the rapid in the distance, you have 15 seconds to figure out the best course of action. There’s no time to stop and think about it; you must act on impulse. He has the same experience showing up on the…
Town Eyesores Prompt Bylaw
The grass growing up through the pavers, the three plastic pots sprouting weeds, the weathered facade, peeling paint and unswept sidewalk of the Golden Dragon restaurant on Water street, Vineyard Haven, do not promise a fine dining experience.
Nor, for that matter does the interior, with its ill-assorted collection of tables and chairs…
Teachers Sign New Contract
After a year of talks that both sides said took longer than usual in these economically straitened times, the All-Island School Committee and the two Island teachers’ unions have inked a contract that will hand teachers an approximate eight per cent increase in pay and step wages over the next three years.
Menemsha Pond Reopens
Menemsha Pond Reopens
Menemsha Pond and Nashaquitsa Pond in Chilmark were reopened to shellfishing yesterday by the state Division of Marine Fisheries. The ponds were closed by the state following the July 12 massive fire at the U.S. Coast Guard boathouse in Menemsha due to debris and oil in the water. The Chilmark…
Interim Fix at West Tisbury Intersection
Following a road safety audit held earlier this month between state and local representatives regarding the dangerous intersection at State and County Roads in West Tisbury, the state has gone ahead and installed permanent reflectors in the area, without first informing town officials.
“We had just had a meeting with the state about…
Noise, Trash Talk in Oak Bluffs at Shark Tournament Debrief
Oak Bluffs selectmen this week aired complaints about noise and trash from the annual monster shark tournament, a three-day event held last weekend that attracted more than 100 fishing boats to the town harbor and throngs of onlookers.
The organizer of the tournament is Steven James of the Boston Big Game Fishing Club.
Wind Rules
Wind Rules
Day Sail Ends in Dispute With Coast Guard
Three generations of the Oliver family of Edgartown had sailed their 22-foot Hereshoff Seasons from Mattapoisett on Tuesday, catching three nice bluefish for dinner on the way, when six-year-old Elizabeth Oliver became the center of a confrontation with the U.S. Coast Guard that devolved into a noisy standoff over individual rights, maritime authority and child…
Adversaries Find Key to Stay Gate Dispute
A court dispute between the Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation and the Quansoo Beach Association has been put on hold after the two sides have reached a temporary agreement about the placement of a locked gate on the road that leads to Quansoo Beach.
The gate has been moved further down the Quansoo Road, closer…
Residents Oppose Van Tour Plan for Edgartown
By MEGAN DOOLEY
A passionate group of Edgartown residents spoke out against allowing tour buses on narrow town streets, asking the selectmen at a public hearing Monday to preserve and promote a walking culture downtown instead.
Annual Drug Sweep Discovers Bumper Pot Crop in Harthaven
State police and federal drug enforcement authorities made their annual helicopter sweep over the Vineyard early this week looking for marijuana plants under cultivation.
Sgt. Jeffrey Stone who works out of the Massachusetts state police barracks in Oak Bluffs, said yesterday that 62 plants were found and removed at six sites in Oak…
Acoustic Consultant Discusses Issue of Wind Turbine Noise
Listen. According to acoustic consultant Greg Tocci, if you are on the Vineyard you are probably hearing some combination of traffic, mechanical noise, wind rustling foliage or surf. This is the Island’s ambient background noise. It is the low unintrusive ever-present hum of Island activity. Will the sound of massive carbon fiber blades slicing through…
Correction
Correction
A story in the Tuesday Gazette about the newly named assistant principal at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School misspelled Matt Malowski’s last name. The Gazette regrets the error.
West Tisbury
JOHN S. ALLEY
508-693-2950
(alleys@vineyard.net)
The weather for July has been just the opposite of last year; in 2010 we have had at least six days with a temperature over 90 degrees, high humidity for a good part of the month and a lot of sun. It is the…
Oak Bluffs
Bettye Foster Baker
508-696-9983
(bdrbaker@comcast.net)
There are few times in our lives when we can witness the beginning of the life cycle to self-independence of a living creature. I was such a witness for over four weeks, and will be forever grateful for the small pleasure nature delivered to…
East Chop
Rick Herrick
508-693-8065
(herricklr@verizon.net)
It was a fun-filled weekend. Rain could not dampen the enthusiasm of East Choppers for the celebration of the hundredth anniversary of the East Chop Tennis Club. The only casualty was the cancellation of the Davis Cup match on Saturday morning due to the rain.
Vineyard Haven
NANCY GARDELLA
508-693-3308
(vhavenvgazette@yahoo.com)
Friday, August 6, was certainly a day that has lived in infamy. Our annual memorial of the Hiroshima bombing will be held at the Aquinnah Lighthouse at 6 a.m. Please join us for prayers, words, songs and silence. You may catch a ride from Cronig’s…
Chilmark
JANE N. SLATER
508-645-3378
(slaterjn@comcast.net)
Chilmark moves on to August and more summer fun in the sun! The weather in July was a vacationer’s dream but a bit much for the rest of us. Now let’s see what August can do! Some homes and the town hall suffered from…
Chappy
BRAD WOODGER
508-627-4216
(ibwsgolf@aol.com)
I’ve never heard of holding August in July, but I’m sure someone had a good reason for doing it. I wonder if we’ll get July in August? Or another August. Or a Jaugust? Only thing that could have made this July a wee bit more…
Edgartown
KATHIE CASE
508-627-5349
(kathleencase@comcast.net)
We have had a roller coaster of weather this past week: sun, humidity, rain, nice sea breezes, and Mother Nature had a hand in her own fireworks.
Happy birthday to all who celebrated their day this past week. Big balloons go out to…
Please Adopt Us
Please Adopt Us
The Animal Shelter of Martha’s Vineyard is quickly becoming a hub for unwanted, stray and homeless cats. Won’t you please stop by to see them?
Temperatures
Temperature: Precip.
Day Max. Min. Inches.
Fº Fº
July 23 85 63 .00
July 24 79 66 1.52
July 25 85 68 .12
July 26 89 65 .01
July 27 82 60 .00
July 28 86 65 .00
July 29 83 72 .00
…
Welcome Sarah
Welcome Sarah
Leidiane Maciel and Alexandre Pio of Oak Bluffs announce the birth of a daughter, Sarah Alves Vieira Pio, born on July 22, 2010, at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Sarah weighed 7 pounds, 8 ounces at birth.
Hello, Isabella
Hello, Isabella
Shannon Larsen and Daniel Larsen Jr of West Tisbury announce the birth of a daughter, Isabella Rosalie Larsen, born on July 24, 2010, at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Isabella weighed 7 pounds, 10 ounces at birth.
Planetary Triangle
Two planets in our western sky are only two degrees apart: The red planet Mars and the ringed planet Saturn are so close, they form a perfect pair. This close relationship will last only a couple of nights, as Mars begins to move eastward appearing to pass by and under Saturn. Tonight the two planets…
July 23: Partly Cloudy
Friday, July 23: Partly cloudy. Muggy and hot. Temperature in the mid-80s. Clouds increase in the afternoon. Heavy rain arrives at night, clearing the Edgartown Main street of pedestrians. Loud thunder.
Saturday, July 24: Early morning thunderstorm. Partly cloudy. Periods of hot sunshine. Clouds increase in the afternoon. Thunderstorm in the afternoon. Skies…
Window Box Beauties
Window Box Beauties
Every fall the Martha’s Vineyard Garden Club awards five businesses and/or organizations in each town with a certificate for the most beautiful window boxes or landscaping.
Maurice Vanderpol Tells His Story to Help Others
World War II had just ended and a Jewish man was sitting in a café in Hamburg, Germany. The man told a waiter he would like a cup of coffee and theVölkischer Beobachter, the Nazi newspaper. The waiter explained to the man that he could have the coffee but thecafé didn’t sell that newspaper anymore.…
Swinging in the Years: East Chop Tennis Club Celebrates 100 Years
On Friday night, July 23, the East Chop Tennis Club began a weekend-long celebration of its 100th anniversary. Grill night, a potluck barbecue, set things off, which was followed at 7:30 p.m. with an evening of historical recollections.
As a warm up to the main event, Allie and Paul Hyzak put on a…
No Nutcrackers: Boyz Take Ballet to New, Improved, Tattooed Place
In a group of 10 men, you might think egos could run high and competition would ensue. But the only thing running high in the dancers of Balletboyz are their legs carving out space midturn, and their energy to work with each other on stage.
Savor the Moments, Music of Della Day
Della Hardman had the soul of a West Virginian, the heart of a Vineyarder and an unparalleled curiosity for life. This weekend, the sixth annual Della Hardman Day event will celebrate what Mrs. Hardman encouraged everyone around her to do: savor the moment.
Hail the Once and Future Book
For those who may have forgotten, the paperback novel is a lightweight paper unit with words printed on actual (not virtual) pages. In the age of the e-book, it’s difficult to imagine that this simple concept was once a ground-breaking advancement in the world of literature. But 75 years ago, it was.
Scotland-Bound Secret to Be Revealed
It’s been nearly 400 years since Jaques in As You Like It made the observation that all the world’s a stage, but over the next few weeks, high school drama teacher Kate Murray and 16 theatre students will take the Shakespearian saying to heart as they rehearse their original musical, The Secret of the Seven…
Poets Anthology
Poets Anthology
Cleaveland House Poets Anthology is among the books on display through tomorrow at the annual Poets House Showcase in New York city, today 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
This is a display of all the poetry books published in the U.S. during…
Men’s Bereavement Group Goes National
The Vineyard nonprofit Men’s Bereavement Group is expanding to a national focus, aiming to make the American public aware of the unique requirements of men grieving the loss of a spouse or life partner. The bereavement group has appointed Frederick H. Spero as the executive director and is launching the Men’s Bereavement Network Web site,…
Trinity Church Welcomes Rev. Stephanie Spellers
Trinity Episcopal Church in Oak Bluffs welcomes the Reverend Stephanie Spellers as celebrant for this Sunday, August 1. A former Cox Fellow and minister for radical welcome at St. Paul’s Cathedral in Boston, Rev. Spellers is a consultant and member of the Episcopal Church’s Standing Commission on Domestic Mission and Evangelism, and travels the country…
Quiet One’s Actions Speak Loudly
Brian (Chip) Vanderhoop, 49, saved the livelihoods of a lot of fishermen as the U.S. Coast Guard boathouse burned. The Aquinnah harbor master and shellfish constable would prefer little notice; it is just out of character for him to talk much about himself or to pose for a photograph. Of his five Vanderhoop siblings, he…
Brewster Sisters Are Back for Field Gallery Exhibit
Sisters Marlee Brewster Brockmann and Patience Brewster will be feted with an artists’ reception for their new exhibition on Sunday, August 1 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Field Gallery in West Tisbury.
Spelling Bee Is Effervescent, Energetic
This has been a remarkably satisfying season for Island theatregoers. We have available not only our regular offerings — the Vineyard Playhouse’s mainstage season and Shakespeare in the amphitheatre, Camp Jabberwocky, Children’s Theatre, special events at the Yard — but also an energetic new theatre company, ArtFarm Enterprises, which has presented some glorious work in…
Islanders Who Speak for Children
By JONAH LIPSKY
On August 3 Islanders have a rare opportunity to hear and see firsthand accounts of the atrocities of child homelessness and exploitation around the world — and what certain Vineyard people are doing about it.
Island filmmakers Len and Georgia Morris will be showing a short version of…
Mussel Farming
The first blue mussels on the experimental offshore mussel farm in Vineyard waters will be harvested in the coming weeks. The mussels are large enough to go to market, according to Scott Lindell, an aquaculture specialist with the Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratory.
There are two small farms. One is north of Chilmark;…
Reverend Hal Taussig Will Preach at Union Chapel
The Rev. Hal Taussig will be the guest preacher at Union Chapel this Sunday, August 1. This will be his fourth visit to the historic chapel. The title of his sermon is Losing Balloons at the Beach, based on the theme of leisure and crisis. The service begins at 10 a.m. preceded by organ preludes…
Shooting Fashion to Shooting Beauty: Lens Forces Open Disability Discussion
Shooting Beauty director George Kachadorian wouldn’t mind settling for an Oscar, but his real objective is to get every student in the country to watch his 60-minute documentary. Mr. Kachadorian, along with the co-director and main subject of Shooting Beauty, Courtney Bent, also his wife, wants to engage America in frank, open conversation about disability.
Ben Taylor
Ben Taylor
Ben Taylor will play live at the Island Theatre on Circuit avenue in Oak Bluffs on Wednesday, August 4, from 6 to 8 p.m. Doors open at 5:30.
The concert is a benefit for the capital campaign for the Island’s Waldorf preschool, Plum Hill School. Tickets are $30 general…
Mature Workers Program
Mature Workers Program
Income-qualified people 55 or older, who want and need to work, may find the possibility of a 20-hour-per-week paid work experience and/or skills training opportunity with the Mature Workers Program of Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands. To learn more about its Bridge Back to Work program, call…
Merlins in Massachusetts
The merlins that nested on Chappaquiddick have fledged three chicks. Lanny McDowell, Bob Shriber and I were invited by the owners of the house next to these falcons to come and photograph the hatchlings before they flew. Lanny took some great photos as usual, and we thank the owners for their hospitality and excellent observations.…
First Corn
There is nothing like a couple of rainstorms to set everything right. Here it is Saturday afternoon and I am sitting in the shade of the one tree in my vegetable garden.
Crab Crawl
Aristophanes, the Athenian comic playwright, must have been a funny guy, since he is still remembered for the 40 plays that he produced in his lifetime. It is not his plays that amuse me, but his cynical wit when observing the natural world.
It was Aristophanes who stated that “you cannot teach a…
