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 27, 2013
Planet Watching
In the wee hours of tomorrow morning, soon after midnight tonight, the near quarter moon and the planet Jupiter will rise together in the east. They are a pair in the zodiacal constellation Gemini, a constellation associated with the depth of winter, when the air is frosty and nights are long. Jupiter is the brightest…
Scholarship Fund Keeps Memory of Their Mother Alive
It is not easy to describe Jill McLean Taylor in few words. She was a New Zealander who married an Irish man and made her home in America, a physical therapist who went back to school and earned her doctorate while raising three sons. She was the kind of professor who took calls from students…
These Old Houses
Tearing down old buildings is most often cheaper than restoring them, so the sale of two antique houses to private buyers this week marks a positive turn for historic preservation on the Vineyard. The Old Parsonage in West Tisbury, a seventeenth century farmhouse believed to be the second oldest home on the Island, and the…
Three Centuries Old, Quansoo House Ready for a Makeover
The house sits at the far end of Quansoo Road in Chilmark, through a meadow of goldenrod and tall grasses overlooking Tisbury Great Pond. It is perhaps the oldest house on Martha’s Vineyard, more than three centuries old, and one of the finest existing examples of multi-century architecture on the Island.
With New Novels, Writer Finally Lets Imagination Enjoy Island Life
Richard North Patterson likes to think of himself as a method actor. The 66-year-old writer and part-time resident of West Tisbury writes mostly fiction, but while his characters are born out of the quiet space in his imagination, he said, their every thought and movement is grounded in research.
Getting Pinned by Derby Is Long Lasting Love Affair
Years ago during the Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby, Ron Domurat went out shorefishing with his old friend Donald Mohr. The two hit upon a school of false albacore and each hooked a fish at the same time. The fish were twins, Mr. Domurat recalled earlier this week, “down to the hundredth of…
Erosion-Threatened East Chop Drive Traffic Curbed for Winter
The Oak Bluffs selectmen voted Tuesday to restrict traffic on East Chop Drive to one lane this winter out of concern for the unstable condition of the eroding bluff beneath the road. The vote came as the town continues to wrangle for funding to fix the bluff, and as East Chop residents press for a…
Land Bank Revenues: Sept. 20
The Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank reported revenues of $262,051 for the business week ending on Friday, Sept. 20, 2013. The land bank receives its funds from a two per cent fee charged on many Vineyard real estate transactions.
Bluefish Big, Stripers Steady, Enthusiasm Huge at 68th Derby
It seems every day the fish get bigger at the Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby, now entering its third week. There have been numerous lead changes in all categories. Daniel Hiemer, 40, of Waldeck, Germany, is currently at the top of the bluefish caught from a boat with a 19.69 pounder, the largest…
Stonewall Beach House Will Be Moved Due to Erosion
A family-owned camp of small houses overlooking Stonewall Beach is set to be moved due to severe erosion.
The Chilmark zoning board of appeals voted unanimously on Wednesday to allow a house and several outbuildings to be relocated at the Langmuir property on Greenhouse Lane.
County Courthouse, Built in 1858, Will Get Needed Repairs
After a wide-ranging discussion about the poor condition of the Edgartown courthouse due to deferred maintenance, the Dukes County advisory board voted this week to put $150,000 toward repairs on the 1858 brick building that stands in the center of town. The advisory board voted unanimously Wednesday to move $150,000 from the county budget reserve…
Farm Neck Foundation Seeks Grant Submissions
The Farm Neck Foundation is requesting submissions for 2013 grants. All Island nonprofit organizations whose goal is to improve the quality of life in the Martha’s Vineyard community are eligible. The deadline is Nov. 1.
Framingham Man Found Dead Near Lake Tashmoo
A 74-year-old Framingham man was found dead in the ocean near Lake Tashmoo Wednesday morning, according to state police. The man was found by a property caretaker at about 10 a.m. west of the Lake Tashmoo opening, state police Sgt. Jeffrey Stone said. While police are still investigating the circumstances of his death, Sergeant Stone…
Islanders Seek Assistance Navigating Social Security Waters
For many years, Social Security Administration representatives paid regular visits to the Island to assist with applications for benefits, and answer general questions about eligibility.
But in 2011, citing budget cutbacks, the federal agency said it could no longer afford the costs associated with travel to the Island. Over the next two years, 490 contact…
Vineyard Students Perform Generally Well on MCAS Test, Exceed State Averages
With standardized test results made public last Friday, school leaders Islandwide have begun to examine the wealth of data and discuss student performance with staff and parents. Scores from the MCAS test administered to Island students last spring show the majority of students at Island public schools are performing at or above state standards in…
Summer Reading Success
The Edgartown Library summer reading program this year involved more than 100 children and for the first time reached out to children at the Boys’ and Girls’ Club. The statewide theme was Dig Into Reading. Leading this summer’s readers at the library was Jason Alpert-Wisnia, who read and reported on 58 books. Brandon Engerman read…
Penalty Sought for Unpermitted Plumbing
The West Tisbury building department will seek disciplinary action against an Island plumber who installed plumbing without a permit at State Road restaurant. Building inspectors Ernie Mendenhall and Joe Tierney notified the West Tisbury selectmen on Wednesday that they plan to file a complaint with the state against Walter Smith Plumbing. The company installed plumbing…
Talking Ponds With Tisbury Waterways
On Thursday, Sept. 26, the Tisbury Waterways, Inc. will hold its annual meeting at 5 p.m. at the Katharine Cornell Theatre. The meeting will include a presentation on inshore dredging projects and what to do with the collected spoils. The program is a joint effort by the Tisbury Waterways Inc. and the Martha’s Vineyard Commission.
Oak Bluffs Town Column: Sept. 27
Among the welcome sounds of silence in September in Oak Bluffs, the ones I miss most are the songs played on the 1921 Wurlitzer band organ at the Flying Horses. It was called the Carousel until previous owners, the Turnell family, renamed it the Flying Horses in the 1940s. They chose this in a paean…
Oak Bluffs Increases Stipends for Volunteer Firefighters
The Oak Bluffs selectmen Tuesday unanimously approved increased annual stipends for the fire department.
When requesting the increase, acting fire chief John Rose said the new stipends are more comparable to the pay scale in other towns.
Chilmark Town Column: Sept. 27
Chilmark is happy to be the host town for the 5th annual Salt Water Challenge. Salt Water Heroes, wounded veterans from across the country, will gather at the Beach Plum Inn for a week of derby fishing from Sept. 29 through Oct. 4. This popular event is hosted by the Nixon family who owns and…
West Tisbury Town Column: Sept. 27
Well, September has slipped away rapidly and we are now in the fall season. The weekend weather was delightful but Sunday was noticeably cooler, lending a fall-like atmosphere to the air. Folks are looking forward to the Living Local Harvest Festival and Antique Power Show on Oct. 4 and 5. The Striped Bass and Bluefish…
Edgartown Town Column: Sept. 27
This is the time of year when the outside is usually warmer than the inside of your house. If you are like me, the heater does not go on until November. Well, maybe a few times in between to take the chill off, but just for a minute.
Chappy Town Column: Sept. 27
As of Wednesday morning, 269 homeowners had sent in their commitment letter to Comcast. As you know, 270 are required for Comcast to proceed. Remember that if you mail your letter in to Comcast, c/o Edgartown National Bank, P.O. Box 1029, Edgartown, MA 02539, it must be postmarked no later than Oct. 1. You can…
Aquinnah Town Column: Sept. 27
The weather has been absolutely ideal all week, allowing for all the outdoor activities one did not get to over the busy summer. The fish are not as abundant as usual and perhaps it is due to the warmth of the water but they are still biting. The birds are lingering and not migrating south…
Please Adopt Us
Good news about Greta, the great dog who won so many hearts at the Animal Shelter of Martha’s Vineyard. She has been adopted! Last seen, she was sitting regally in the back of her new owners’ car looking right at home. The staff and the volunteers at the shelter are overjoyed both for Greta and…
Remembering a True Gentleman: Sheldon Hackney
When I think of Sheldon, what always comes first to mind is what a nice man he was. He was the epitome of masculine niceness, the kind of person we call a “true gentleman.” And of course he had that Southern accent and gracious manners, which made him all the more charming. He was attentive,…
Building a Strong and Stronger Community at Island Crossfit
Betsy Bell Baliunas was always intimidated to walk into the Box. The name didn’t help either. The Box didn’t look like your normal gym, Ms. Baliunas recalled. “Where are the machines? There are no machines. There’s a rope — what am I going to do with that?” she wondered.
Planning For A New Breed of Storms
Oct. 29 marks the one-year anniversary of Superstorm Sandy. Had she headed 200 miles farther north of her Atlantic City-area landfall and then taken a left, we’d still be dealing with the havoc left in her wake.
What’s in Your Lunchbox? Healthy Snacks Give Kids Needed Boost
I love fall, from the beautiful weather to the change in routines, with schedules a little more ordered and the kids back in school. But with back to school also comes the annual school lunch challenge. Parents and kids have a choice: buy lunch in school or pack a homemade lunch.
Death Is Part of Life on the Farm
I was 15 minutes late to the Allen Farm this morning. It was cold and getting out of bed felt like torture.
Doggone It, Exercise Needs a Companion
Ever since we had to put down our beloved dog last February, I have lost the will to exercise. Floyd, our yellow lab, was my physical fitness program as well as my religion.
The Virgin Queen
The reign of the water queen is coming to an end.
Tracking Ospreys
We were packing to leave for a trip to Maine on Sept. 14 to visit old Vineyard friends and attend a wedding. Our backpacks were on the kitchen table and I had just filled the hummingbird feeder. One of the juvenile ruby-throated hummingbirds flew up to the kitchen window, hovered for a few seconds and…
Go Fly a Kite at the Wind Festival
The Martha’s Vineyard Wind Festival takes place on Saturday, Oct. 12, but no need to wait to get in the kite-flying mood. The poster for the event was created by Traeger di Pietro and is available now for $20. Sales of the poster benefit the American Cancer Society’s breast cancer research. Posters are available at…
Early Frost
I could not be happier to see the first week of fall. It is so wonderfully cool and clear. The gardens are looking spectacular in this lower light. One must look, of course, with a soft eye to avoid seeing weeds and dead flower stalks. The wild goldenrod I neglected to pull now looks like…
Exploring With Sassafras This Fall
Sassafras Earth Education in Aquinnah has a full lineup of events during the off-season. There’s Nature’s Nest for young children on Fridays, Squirrels and Coyotes for the 6 to 14 year-old set on Sundays, and some Saturday events for “wild families.” If mom and dad are interested in seeking a deeper connection with nature, there…
Artists Open Their Doors For Tour
Take to the road on Saturday, Sept. 28, as Featherstone presents its third annual art studio tour event. Sixteen artists open their studios to visitors and showcase their artwork. Island artists include Jeri Dantzig of Vineyard Haven, Deirdre DeCarion of Edgartown, Ruth Kirchmeier of West Tisbury and Joan LeLacheur of Aquinnah. Visit featherstoneart.org to get…
Fitness and Stories Go Hand in Hand
The Trustees of Reservations offers a new StoryWalk this fall at Menemsha Hills Reservation. The book Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey will be posted page by page along the trail so as hikers continue to walk they will also move deeper into the story. Fitness and literacy, finally walking hand in hand together. The…
Mushroom Walk-and-Talk
Marlene Snecinski, also known as Mushroom Marlene, leads a fall walk foraging for wild mushrooms at Polly Hill Arboretum in West Tisbury on Saturday, Oct. 5, from 2 to 4 p.m. She will point out fun fungi facts and discuss mycophagy along the way. Preregistration is required for this mushroom walk-and-talk so call 508-693-9426 for…
Dinner and Opera? Sounds Delicious
Wendy Taucher Dance Opera Theatre brings a bit of its fall season to the Island in October. Chef Matthew Passachlacqua collaborates with Ms. Taucher for an evening of food, wine pairings and song at an opera dinner on Saturday, Oct. 19. The event is part of the Martha’s Vineyard Food & Wine Festival and will…
ACE Offers Small Business Workshop
Adult Community Education MV is joining with SCORE of Cape Cod and the Islands to offer a six-week workshop for small businessses on Wednesday evenings beginning Oct. 9. The curriculum includes start-up tools, marketing, creating a business plan and an introduction to e-commerce. Computer courses related to small business such as QuickBooks, Excel for beginners,…
Raffling a Creative Home for Chickens
A silo chicken coop designed by Hutkers Architects is currently on display at the SBS Grain Store in Vineyard Haven. The coop is a two-story structure built with found and recycled materials, a grass rooftop, a laying box with privacy for hens, and other features.
Welcome Henrick
Luciana and Flavio Paula of Oak Bluffs announce the birth of a son, Henrick da Silva Paula, born on Sept. 21 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Henrick weighed 6 pounds, 10.5 ounces at birth.
Gray Arrives
Sarah and Nick Waldman of Vineyard Haven announce the birth of a son, Gray Paul Waldman, born on Sept. 22 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Gray weighed 7 pounds, 13 ounces at birth. He joins big brother Dylan.
Town Takes a Loss, But Warren House Gets New Lease on Life
The Warren House, a town-owned North Water street mansion that has recently fallen into a state of disrepair, at last has a new owner.
Puppet Theatre Sets Table for Food Insecurity Awareness
The stage is a dinner table. As audience members enter the theatre they are encouraged to sit in the first few rows and be guests at the table. Then, as the performers guide the audience through five stories, the table transforms into a highway, a parking lot and even an ocean.
The show is called…
Documentary Filmmaker Buys Old Parsonage for $600,000
The Old Parsonage house in West Tisbury, believed to be the second oldest home on the Island, has new owners. The 17th century farmhouse owned by Tara Whiting and her brother Daniel Whiting sold to Eric Burns and Bonnie Lafave of New York city for $600,000. The deal was completed on Friday, Justin Manning of…
Land Bank Permanently Protects Nearly 40 Acres at Flat Point Farm
A large portion of Flat Point Farm in West Tisbury has been permanently placed in conservation thanks to a purchase by the Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank completed last week.
Black Sea Bass Is Featured Guest At Kids Derby
The skies opened up just as Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby chairman John Custer finished announcing the winners of the derby’s annual Kids Day on Sunday morning. Rolling gray clouds overhead had brought trickles of rain earlier in the morning, but the downpour held off until after the awards were complete. Hannah Landers,…
