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
November 30, 2012
WMVY Radio Mounts Effort To Re-emerge as Internet Station
As the news raced around the Island Tuesday that its signal would be sold, WMVY launched an ambitious fund-raising drive to stay online and on the air.
“This is real. We must evolve. Or face extinction,” an announcement on the station’s website declared.
Boston NPR Station Will Take Over Airwaves in 2013 With Purchase of WMVY’s Signal
Radio station WMVY, the popular independent local station that has been on the air on the Vineyard for nearly three decades, will sell its broadcast signal 92.7 FM to WBUR, the well-known National Public Radio station in Boston.
Vineyarders Find Their Thrill At Estate Sale for Blueberry Hill Inn
The Inn at Blueberry Hill had been closed for three years, and like for a child standing outside of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, buzz began to swirl across the Island in the days leading up to last Saturday’s estate sale. This would be the first time in three years the up-Island landmark known for its…
As Special Needs Programs Grow In Complexity, So Do Budgets
Madeline Way tapped on an iPad in her Project Headway classroom at the West Tisbury School. “The kids who use this program cannot talk,” she explained. “But they can go like this in a fury.” Tap, tap, tap. The iPad speaks: “I — want — puzzles.”
Owners Say Action Needed to Save Erosion-Ravaged Homes
Following Hurricane Sandy’s blow to the south-facing coastline of the Vineyard last month, the Chilmark conservation commission is now facing a slew of plans for beach protection, including a request to move two homes and a shed now perilously perched atop the cliff at Stonewall Beach.
Fishing Permit the Main Catch in Viking Purchase
With the sale of Viking, a 40-foot fishing boat that has plied the waters off the Vineyard for three generations, the Island’s once-vibrant fleet of small wooden draggers is now at the brink of extinction. Craig Coutinho of Vineyard Haven confirmed this week that he will sell Viking along with his fishing permits.
World AIDS Day Marks Long Struggle for Cure and Acceptance
In the very beginning, when nobody knew anything, everyone was afraid. It was 1986 and Kevin had just been diagnosed as HIV-positive. Many of his friends were dying from AIDS. “I went to visit my friend Larry in a hospital, who had pneumocystis [a form of pneumonia],” Kevin recalled. “He was at the very end…
39 Sengekontacket Road, Oak Bluffs
39 Sengekontacket Road in Oak Bluffs sold for $1,200,000 on Nov. 19.
87 Fourth Street North, Edgartown
87 Fourth Street North in Edgartown sold for $465,000 on Nov. 19.
Radio Waves
On a cold, gray November morning the warm sounds of Van Morrison, Elvis Costello, Bonnie Raitt and John Hiatt pour out the of radio at 92.7 on the FM dial, punctuated by a report on the Steamship Authority (calm seas, boats are on time) and the morning movie quote. Periodically the sound of jingle bells…
Harbor Lights
As a sparkling, almost balmy Thanksgiving weekend drew to a close, cold air moved in to chill the bones, a reminder that winter is indeed on the way. Daylight comes to an abrupt end by late afternoon now, and the edges of the sky are brushed with the colors of twilight: pale gray, lavender, translucent…
Tales from Gosnold: Politics and Potlucks, Much the Same
Rule number one: An islander does not ask another islander over for dinner. We already know far too much about each other to open ourselves up to the possibility of revealing what few mysteries there might be left. So aside from the occasional potluck supper, there isn’t much social life. The suppers tend to be…
Sand in My Shoes: Sweet Tooth for Life Inspires, Especially at the Very End
I first wrote about Connie last January in the Oak Bluffs town column. Something unusual, actually supernatural, had happened between Connie and me, back in that frosty month, and I had to share it. Constance MacAllister was a friend of mine, an older woman who lived with her daughter, Gwyn, also a close friend, in…
Quality of Island Watersheds Should Be Priority for Everyone
Water. It is a key to life. At times it is our ally. Other times it is our adversary, as was the case for many during and after Hurricane Sandy. The lesson was clear: we have only one choice — to work with water, not fight it. Many individuals and organizations have been involved with…
People’s Republic
Norman Reed (letter, Vineyard Gazette Nov. 23) rues the loss of a hat in an election bet on Mitt Romney. He also fears a far greater loss, the form of government designed by Ben Franklin and his fellow delegates in their secret meetings in Independence Hall.
Unjustified Killing
After reading the recent report of a dog shooting in West Tisbury I am troubled by our state law that allows the owner of a chicken the legal right to kill another individuals family pet for killing, or even worse, for “worrying” a chicken. I have lived on the Vineyard for 28 years and have…
Thanksgiving for All
Last Friday we had the annual Family to Family Thanksgiving meal distribution at the First Baptist Church in Vineyard Haven.
Volunteering in Rwanda
My name is Grace Burton-Sundman. I have spent most of my life on Martha’s Vineyard. I attended the Tisbury School beginning in first grade and am a 2006 graduate of the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School. I also hold a bachelor of arts degree from St. Lawrence University.
Freeze Frame
From the Vineyard Gazette editions of November 1955: In the 27 years that one Edgartown family has watched Sheriff’s Meadow Pond morning, noon and night, storm and calm, summer and winter, they have never witnessed the phenomenon of a November freeze-up of that two-acre body of water. But that was what happened during the night…
Shotgun Season Begins With a Bang
A total of 173 deer had been taken yesterday in the first week of shotgun season. The three primary deer check-in stations on the Island reported Thursday that the number of deer taken so far is about the same as in recent years. The two-week shotgun season for deer ends on Saturday, Dec. 8.State wildlife…
Juveniles Charged With Edgartown Break-in
Edgartown police arrested two 12 year olds in connection with a breaking and entering at Sandpiper Realty. The two boys, one an Edgartown resident and another who lives in West Tisbury, are not being identified by the police. They are scheduled to be arraigned in December in juvenile court on charges of breaking and entering…
Cape Wind, NStar Contract Passes State’s Muster
The state Department of Public Utilities has approved a 15‑year power purchase agreement between the electric company NStar and Cape Wind Associates, the company that plans to build a wind farm on Nantucket Sound. The approval was announced this week following an eight-month adjudicatory proceeding.
Three Women Arraigned for Sneaking Drugs to Inmates
Three women were arraigned last week for allegedly delivering drugs to inmates at the Edgartown house of correction. Penny J. Gazaille, 33, of Edgartown, and June Morrell, 23, of West Tisbury, were arraigned Nov. 19 on charges of delivering drugs to a prisoner. According to documents filed in court, on August 14 Ms. Gazaille allegedly…
Tisbury House Fire
Tisbury volunteer firefighters extinguished a small fire at a home on Lambert’s Cove Road Monday. The homeowner, Janice Blum, called the fire department when she discovered the fire just after noon. “When we arrived the house was filled with black smoke,” fire chief John Schilling said. “We couldn’t see through the front door of the…
Officer on Medical Leave
A Tisbury police officer has been placed on leave after she was involved in a one-car crash last week. Officer Kelly Kershaw sustained minor injuries after she drove a police car into a tree on State Road on Nov. 20, according to state police. According to state police Sgt. Thomas Medeiros, Ms. Kershaw said that…
26 Basin Road, Chilmark
26 Basin Road in Chilmark sold for $2,200,000 on Nov. 20.
27 Abels Neck Road, Chilmark
27 Abels Neck Road in Chilmark sold for $1,490,000 on Nov. 19.
Land Bank Revenues: Nov. 23
The Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank reported revenues of $141,687 for the business week ending on Friday, Nov. 23, 2012.
Planetary Lineup
This weekend offers an early morning show. Three planets and a star line up in the eastern sky before sunrise. Venus is the brightest of the three and works as an easy guide to find the other two. Above and to the right of Venus is the ringed planet Saturn. To the left and below…
Tisbury School Announces Honor Roll
The Tisbury School has announced its honor roll for the first quarter of the 2012-2013 academic year. Eighth grade high honors go to Justine Cassel, Elias Fhagen-Smith, Colbeck Leuenberger and David Packer. Eighth grade honors go to Alexandra Barlett, Amanda Bernard, Robson Borges, Monica Carroll, David Caseau, Alison Daigle, Renee Goodale, Anthony Jackson, Emma Kristal,…
Oak Bluffs Town Column: Nov. 30
The land bank’s eponymous new sign on County Road indicates the Southern Woodlands Preserve is open. Take time for a walk there and you’ll be amazed that you’re still in Oak Bluffs. The Southern Woodlands contains classic ancient trails used by the original people and early settlers like we use County and Edgartown-Vineyard Haven roads…
Chappy Town Column: Nov. 30
The long Thanksgiving weekend was a busy time on Chappaquiddick. Many people usually here in the summer were seen enjoying a late-season visit to the island. Besides the homes where family and friends gathered around their annual feasts, people met up with other people in concentrated numbers at a couple of places last Saturday. The…
Vineyard Haven Town Column: Nov. 30
I write from the Old Country where I just spent a very interesting Thanksgiving with Nonna, family, friends, my two dogs and cat. Her insurance time was up at rehab, so thank goodness Dr. John Campbell has returned to his chiropractic practice on-Island and brought charming young associate Sean Norkus. The two talented men were…
West Tisbury Town Column: Nov. 30
Well, Anna, Sam and I went up to see grandson Robbie and his parents Nicole and Arsen for Thanksgiving at their place in East Taunton. We had a wonderful dinner with Anna’s sister Nina her husband Dieter and their son Nick. Also attending the family dinner was their brother Sir Donald Berry and his wife…
Chilmark Town Column: Nov. 30
Chilmark is enduring a gray day as I write midweek. One gray day this week was brightened by the abundant birthday wishes sent Louis Larsen’s way by his loving family and friends. Cheers to you, Louie, and may the coming year have many early summer mornings at the Fish Market for you…and some Florida sunshine…
Aquinnah Town Column: Nov. 30
Snow is in the air, or at least it feels as such. The temperatures have dropped to the 30s and 40s most days. Gray skies are starting to surround us. Deer season has been off to a good start in Aquinnah with more than two dozen deer weighed in during the first two days at…
Jeremy Alley-Tarter Competes in All State
Regional high school junior Jeremy Alley-Tarter competed in the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletics Association all-state cross country meet on the Northfield Mountain course. The meet featured 177 of the top runners in the state of Massachusetts, as determined by placement in divisional meets two weeks ago. Alley-Tarter finished 27th overall with a time of 17:09 in…
79 Beach Road Unit 29, Vineyard Haven
79 Beach Road Unit 29 in Vineyard Haven sold for $350,000 on Nov. 13.
79 Beach Road Unit 27, Vineyard Haven
74 Beach Road, Unit 27 in Vineyard Haven sold for on Nov. 13.
Tisbury Cracks Down on Social Media Use, Considers Teacher Parking Lot
Tisbury town employees will have to restrict their use of Facebook and Twitter while at work from now on. The selectmen voted this week to approve a social media policy for municipal workers, becoming the first town on the Island to do so. The policy allows town departments to use social media sites for public…
Oak Bluffs Property Taxes Increase Slightly
The average Oak Bluffs property tax bill is expected to go up by about $59 next year. The Oak Bluffs selectmen Tuesday approved a proposed tax rate of $7.71 per $1,000 of valuation, a 32 cent increase from last year’s tax rate. Principal assessor Dianne Wilson presented the proposed rate to the selectmen at a…
Wingfest 4: Eating the Heat for Kids
In 1992 Toni Morgan raised $9,000 for the Boys’ and Girls’ Club in what a Gazette feature described as “a novel bet.” Mr. Morgan went on a diet to lose 30 pounds, asking friends to donate to the club for each pound he lost. “His loss is their gain,” the article concluded. But with Wingfest…
Seventy-Five Years of Helping Kids Be Kids
In the art room of the Boys & Girls Club of Edgartown, staffer Mary Seveland guided kids in the afterschool program through the steps of making the painted paper people that will adorn the windows of Edgartown businesses throughout the winter. Across the broad worktables lay completed projects; a girl wearing purple and pink polka…
Vineyard Deer Are Fat and Sassy, Except During Hunting Season
Mom and Dad: It has been a long time since I swam over to the Island, leaving you guys in the past. I meant to write to you sooner, but I’m a deer, so it’s been tough for me to find the time or the means to get a message to you. I met a…
Down the Shore, Everything’s Not All Right
In response to the devastation of Hurricane Sandy a number of Bruce Springsteen photographers have begun donating images of Springsteen to raise funds for the relief effort. Called Photographers for Sandy Relief, the movement was started by James Shive, a Vineyard resident and longtime rock and roll photographer. Mr. Shive got his start while attending…
Christmas Pageant Call
The First Congregational Church of West Tisbury is looking for children to participate in their Christmas Pageant to be held at the Agricultural Hall on Dec. 24 at 5 p.m. Children from ages 5 to 13 are needed to play the following roles: Mary, Joseph, two shepherds, three Wise Men, 10 angels, one donkey and…
Community Chorus Show
The Island Community Chorus will give its traditional holiday concert program in two performances this weekend at the Whaling Church in Edgartown. The performances are on Saturday, Dec. 1, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 2, at 3 p.m. After each performance there will be a reception in the Baylies Room. Admission is a suggested…
Open Mic at Alex’s Place
Alex’s Place, the community open stage at the YMCA, is celebrating its first anniversary this month. This is a place where everyone is welcome, particularly Vineyard teens, to come listen to or play music live on stage in an alcohol and drug-free environment. The open stages take place on successive Friday nights, Nov. 30, Dec.…
Nutcracker Arrives on Island
’Tis the season for snowflakes and sugar plums.The 15th Annual Nutcracker Gala takes place this weekend at the Performing Arts Center and just might be the perfect way to start the holiday month.
Appraisal Day at Museum
Appraisal Day returns to the Martha’s Vineyard Museum on Saturday, Dec. 1, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Three experts from Skinner, Inc., one of the world’s leading auction houses, will be on hand to evaluate everything from furniture to jewelry to calligraphy and everything in between. So check your closets, attics, the backyard, too.…
Joe Doebler Photography
This month the Friends of the Vineyard Haven Public Library are presenting an exhibit of photographs by Joe Doebler as part of its Art in the Stacks program. The exhibit begins on Sunday, Dec. 2 at the library. Mr. Doebler was an underwater acoustic engineer for the Navy and he and his wife retired to…
Tooth Envy
This is one that I can really sink my teeth into! It has all the elements of a great story — an unusual find, a link to the past, a creature of epic proportions, and did I mention colossal choppers? It is hard not to get excited about the mammoth megalodon and even more difficult…
House Owl
The time is drawing nigh for Santa Claus to land on the roof and slide down the chimney with a satchel full of toys for young and old. There are a good number of Vineyard homeowners that have a cap over their chimneys to prevent birds, squirrels and other critters from coming down the chimney…
Leftovers
There is always something interesting in the natural world, especially in the garden if you are paying attention. Last weekend was so beautiful I spent quite a bit of time in the vegetable garden. What started as a day to put things in order for the coming winter turned out to be simply a day…
New Martha’s Vineyard Magazine Issue Arrives
The Not Summer issue of Martha’s Vineyard Magazine explores some diverse artistic expressions — behind the scenes at the Island high school art department, in a museum exhibit of old-fashioned decoy carving and on a hunting season fashion shoot. Paul Brissette, longtime art department chairman at the high school and recent winner of the Creative…
Hug a Tree Spirit
Admit it, you always knew the trees were talking to you. The branches sway and wave, the wind moves through the leaves whispering words of the ancients. But up until now you didn’t know how to respond beyond a bit of marveling or maybe some brushing of the bark. But this Saturday, Dec. 1, from…
Arthur Arrives
Leticia Garcia and Marcelo Moreira of Vineyard Haven announce the birth of a son, Arthur Emanuell Garcia Moreira, born on Nov. 11 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Arthur weighed 8 pounds, 10 ounces at birth.
Gordon Culleto Graudates Pit Crew
Gordon Culleto, 18, of West Tisbury graduated from the Performance Instruction & Training (PIT) facility in Mooresville, N.C. on Oct. 22. Pit Crew U. is a training course for individuals interested in a career in the motorsports industry as an over-the-wall pit crew athlete. In addition to learning pit stop choreography and each of the…
Welcome Joaquin
Fallon Aiello and Carlos Montoya announce the birth of a son, Joaquin Sol Montoya, born on Nov. 12 at the family’s home on Chase Road in Edgartown. Joaquin weighed 6 pounds, 14 ounces at birth, and is welcomed by big sister Everly.
Please Adopt Us
The Animal Shelter of Martha’s Vineyard has a few nice animals who need good homes.Where are all the people who love tuxedo cats and kittens? We have two of the most adorable five-month-old kittens: Brady and Burt, who are brothers and have the most affectionate dispositions. They beg to be loved and have purrs that…
Vineyard Perfect
Offered by Sandpiper Realty, Inc.As many beautiful locations and homes as we have on this wonderful Island, this property ranks at the top of the list of “VERY SPECIAL”…sitting directly on the water’s edge of Lagoon Pond the vintage 1850 home was beautifully restored to include all of today’s conveniences while retaining the character and…
Saying Goodbye to Tisbury Fire Station
In February of 1958, the Tisbury fire department rushed in freshly polished trucks to extinguish the first fire call from the new station on Beach street. Last week the fire department made its last run from the fire station. For pizza.
