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
November 22, 2013
Planets and Moon
Is it a plane? No, Just Venus We’ve watched Venus hover over the treeline in Tisbury for weeks. This is a planet everyone can find, as long as you have a clear view of the western sky. Early in the evening Venus looks like an airplane coming in to land at the Martha’s Vineyard Airport.…
Nursing Agency Braces for Large Losses
Facing a severe revenue shortfall, the Vineyard Nursing Association is on track to end the year with a large and unsustainable operating loss, leaders at the Island’s only home health care agency told the Gazette this week.
Court Case Tests Use of CPA Funds for Church Repairs
In a court case that takes up the issue of whether public money can be spent on historic preservation of churches, a group of Oak Bluffs residents have gone to court to try to block the town from spending Community Preservation Act money on the restoration of Trinity Methodist Church.
Tough Turkey Walks Streets of Tisbury
Except for a single distinguishing feature, this turkey looks like any other in the flock that wanders through Vineyard Haven. But it’s hard to miss the thin green arrow protruding from his haunch.
Wampanoags Elect Chairman, Marking New Era
Taking his victory as a mandate for more openness, the newly-elected chairman of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) vowed this week to put the question of gambling on Martha’s Vineyard to tribal members. Tobias Vanderhoop, who unseated Cheryl Andrews-Maltais by a 165-91 vote on Sunday to head the Vineyard tribe, told the Gazette…
Vineyard Educators Rank Well in Race to Top Data
Data released by the state Thursday rating teachers on their job performance show most Island educators are making the grade. Educators across the six Island schools scored proficient in most cases, while a minority of staff needed improvement.
Tisbury Lowers Residential Tax Exemption
Tisbury selectmen voted to set a tax rate of $8.46 for the coming year, slightly above last year’s rate of $8.01. And after discussion at the public tax classification hearing Tuesday, a majority of the board agreed that the town should take steps to gradually shift away from the practice of allowing a residential tax…
Falmouth Boatline Governor Resigns
Robert S. Marshall, the Steamship Authority governor representing Falmouth, resigned from the board last week. He sent his resignation to the Falmouth selectmen late Thursday evening, following a public meeting in Woods Hole about the proposed terminal redesign there.
Museum Move Subject of Community Forums
Change is planned for the Martha’s Vineyard Museum, and the museum wants community feedback. That was the thinking behind a series of community forums recently held in Chilmark, Vineyard Haven, West Tisbury, Edgartown and Oak Bluffs. Speaking to a crowd of two dozen people attending the Tuesday night meeting at the Federated Church in Edgartown,…
Unforgettable
Fifty years ago today, an unspeakable tragedy occurred, one that left a generation scarred with memories of where they were when President John Fitzgerald Kennedy was assassinated.
New Era Begins
Members of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) sent a strong message about their desire for change last week, voting by a wide margin to elect Tobias Vanderhoop as the new chairman of the tribal council.
Before Ice-Over
At dusk, one by one,hundreds of gulls fallout of the leaden skyonto the lake, alreadybeginning to closeits lid for winter. We call themby their names,recognize bill color,molt, age, species —see everythingbut living beings —finding their spotsfor the night, calling outto kin, to neighbors.Afloat on freezing waves,they turn togetherinto the north wind. While, on…
After 20 Years at Helm, Red Stocking Elves Bid Farewell
A large green binder rested on Lorraine Clark’s kitchen counter this week, the pages filled with requests for bicycles, toys, books, art supplies and blankets.
In Praise of Those Who Led the Way for Same-Sex Marriage
Ten years ago this week, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled in Goodridge versus Department of Public Health, effectively setting off a marriage revolution that today appears to have reached some sort of tipping point even as the effort continues state by state.
Kennedy Death Still Echoes Fifty Years Later
I was 23, a senior at CCNY in New York city, on that Friday — again this year the date falls on a Friday — and had come home to our apartment after my morning classes for a quick lunch. The television was on in the background as I made myself a sandwich.
Marijuana as Medicine Is New Frontier
For 50 years the smoking of marijuana has been a major issue in our country. The idea that marijuana should be considered a medication is a fairly recent addition to the debate. It is a clever addition, however, because “medicines” are good and should be available to those who need them.
Awareness, Action Are Keys to Earth’s Future
A week after attending the West Tisbury Congregational Church service on Sunday, Nov. 10, to hear guest pastor Rev. Reebee Girash give a sermon explicitly focused on actively responding to the climate crisis, one striking impression still seems central to all the others.
JFK Remembered
From the Vineyard Gazette edition of Nov. 29, 1963: Like the rest of the world, the Vineyard was stunned by the assassination of President John F. Kennedy last Friday afternoon.
Town Square Concept
Twelve years ago while studying the walking districts of Vineyard Haven, I became aware that the A&P (now Stop & Shop) parking lot would become a new town square with shops surrounding and connecting Main street to the ferry and the harbor.
On Air Again
Thanks for all the kind words in person and comments on the internet from friends and acquaintances new and old, congratulating me for bringing Martha’s Vineyard radio back on air. Few people are more pleased with this news than me.
Remembering Wayne Coutinho
I enjoyed Skip Finley’s Nov. 1 column that gave your readers insight into one of the Island’s true characters. I met Wayne in 1974 when I washed ashore as a newly-minted college graduate.
Stop & Shop Notebook
It is my personal belief that there isn’t a resident or visitor to the Vineyard who arrives via the SSA to Vineyard Haven who lauds the view that greets them presently: a rundown house, a broken-down building and the existing Stop & Shop.
Land Bank Revenues: Nov. 15
The Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank reported revenues of $328,850 for the business week ending on Friday, Nov. 15, 2013.
Public Safety Issues Settled After Meeting with Tribal Leaders
The Aquinnah fire chief said this week that public safety concerns in the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) tribal housing community have been put to rest following a meeting with tribal leaders.
West Tisbury Library Foundation Reaches Fundraising Goal
The West Tisbury Library Foundation has completed its $1.8 million fundraising goal for the new library project. At the selectmen’s meeting Wednesday, foundation members presented a ceremonial check to the board. The $1.8 million was raised in three years. Foundation chairman Hunter Mormon called it “a tremendously cooperative effort.”
Please Adopt Us
The Animal Shelter is pleased to announce that Michael, the big black tomcat who regularly appeared in this column has found his forever home at last.
Erik Blake Named President of State Chiefs Association
Erik G. Blake, chief of police for Oak Bluffs, has been elected to serve as the president of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association. Mr. Blake is the first Vineyard chief to lead the Grafton-based organization. He will be sworn in on Dec. 12 in Falmouth, and will serve for one year.
Island Oasis Is Source of Creativity
While teaching piano, young Ernie Dewing’s grandmother made him a deal: one classical sonatina for every Rolling Stones song. “I bought one of the first synthesizers ever made back in 1972,” Mr. Dewing said, sitting down at a keyboard in his recording studio on Chappaquiddick.
Even the Horses Are Small at Little Leona’s Magical Pet Shop
Down a dirt road in West Tisbury is a magical place where bunnies are friends with miniature horses, fish swimming in the tanks arrive on boats and a White’s tree frog named Large Marge is the unofficial mascot.
West Tisbury Town Column: Nov. 22
Holiday activity is humming at a fever pitch around town. Folks are gathering for Thanksgiving, coming from near and far to be with family and friends. The Steamship Authority and Cape Air will be real busy starting Tuesday transporting people to and from the Island.
Vineyard Haven Town Column: Nov. 22
Well, we can’t say the warm weather is coming back anytime soon, but the trees and leaves look beautiful. Get out the ice scrapers and the snow shovels, the squirrels told me it’s going to be a long, cold one.
Oak Bluffs Town Column: Nov. 22
The Vineyard Grove Company was founded in 1868 by investors of the Oak Bluffs Methodist community to protect the Camp Ground from the secular activities of the new part of town built by the Oak Bluffs Land and Wharf Company.
Edgartown Town Column: Nov. 22
First we are cold, now we are warm and now the cold is coming in for the rest of the week and weekend. The thermostat is up then it is down. We are so confused, but what can we do?
Chilmark Town Column: Nov. 22
Chilmark is moving into the holiday season with little regard to the weather. Mild and sunny days continue . . . the cold is only a slight hint of what is usual for this time of year.
Chappy Town Column: Nov. 22
The Chappy Community Center invites everyone to the annual Open House and Crafts Fair on Saturday, Nov. 30. Buy a new Chappy calendar, browse the crafts tables and sit by the fire with hot cider and cookies.
Aquinnah Town Column: Nov. 22
Congratulations and all the best to Tobias J. Vanderhoop, chairman elect of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah). Tobias garnered 165 of the 258 votes cast on Sunday.
Vineyard Graduate Marching in Macy’s Parade
This Thanksgiving’s Macy’s parade will feature the usual faces: a giant turkey, Santa, an inflatable Charlie Brown balloon. And yet one face on television will be familiar to folks on Martha’s Vineyard for more personal reasons.
Island Grown Initiative Brings in the Greens
Island Grown Initiative is one step closer to transforming Thimble Farm into a local food source for Island schools.
Minor Oil Spill From Fishing Vessel Closes Oak Bluffs Harbor to Shellfishing
The Oak Bluffs harbor is closed to shellfishing until further notice following a minor oil spill Wednesday morning. A 50-foot tuna-fishing boat has taken on water, causing leach of oil into the harbor, town officials said. After receiving a call around 7:50 a.m. Wednesday morning reporting a fuel smell and a sheen on the water,…
Falmouth Academy Info Night
Falmouth Academy will host an information session for Martha’s Vineyard families on Tuesday, Dec. 10 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center.
Edey Foundation Accepting Applications
The Edey Foundation is accepting applications to fund nonprofit conservation and environmental programs.
GPS Skills Class for Boaters
The Martha’s Vineyard detachment of the Coast Guard Auxiliary will be offering a two-week course on GPS skills for recreational boaters. The course will run Dec. 4 and 11, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the regional high school.
Tisbury Selectmen Close Part of Lagoon to Scalloping
A portion of Lagoon Pond on the Vineyard Haven side was closed to bay scalloping this week to protect a healthy crop of seed scallops in the area.
Soybean Dreams
I was thinking of commenting on our weather the last week or so. I can’t remember such an early ground-covering snow like we had last Tuesday. It was especially odd, but beautiful, to see snow cover on trees with so many leaves remaining.
Age-old Questions
How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you were?
Those Little Brown Jobs
What do clay-colored, vesper, fox, tree, white-crowned and white-throated have in common? They are all types of sparrows that visit the Vineyard in the fall and winter.
Little Yogis
Om is not just for grown-ups. Beginning on Thursday, Dec. 5, Oak Bluffs library will host Little Yogis, a weekly yoga instruction program for ages four to six.
New Website Gives a Leg Up
Tisbury Turkey is a travel and shopping website that raises money for non-profit organizations. The procedure is simple, go to tisburyturkey.com before making an online purchase and see if that online retailer is represented.
Tea and Books
Tea and books go together like . . . well, tea and books. The Federated Church of Edgartown hosts its annual book talk on Monday, Nov. 25, at 4 p.m. Susan Mercier of Edgartown Books is the guest speaker.
Quality of Up-Island Spanish Program Questioned
Amid a discussion of tough choices as the up-Island school committee prepares to vote on a significant increase to the district budget, the up-Island Spanish program came under scrutiny Monday night.
Fall Festival at Felix Neck
Celebrating fall is a tradition at Felix Neck and it comes with hayrides, face painting, live music by the Flying Elbows, food, wreath-making, crafts and even a look at the baby barn owls through the ingenious owl cam.
Tisbury School Presents Aladdin Jr.
The gym at the Tisbury School will transform into Agrabah this weekend as seventh and eighth grade students present Aladdin Jr. on Friday, Nov. 22 and Saturday, Nov. 23.
Superintendent’s Budget Approved With No Cuts
After heartfelt discussion about the cost of education on the Vineyard, the all-Island school committee approved a $5.4 million budget for superintendent Dr. James H. Weiss Tuesday night.
With New Station and Structure, Oak Bluffs Prepares to Revamp Fire Department
After more than a year of discussion, Oak Bluffs is poised to modernize its fire department by creating a new command structure.
Vineyard Wampanoags Elect New Chairman, Marking Generational Shift
Tobias J. Vanderhoop was elected chairman of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) Sunday in a much-watched tribal election, unseating two-term chairman Cheryl Andrews-Maltais by a wide margin.
Tribal Election Under Way
The Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) election opened Sunday amid much anticipation about who will be the next to lead the Vineyard’s only federally recognized Native American tribe. Polling is private and takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at tribal council headquarters in Aquinnah.
Despite Negative Reception NStar Poles Are Here to Stay
The Martha’s Vineyard Commission Thursday approved the new NStar poles that have already been installed along Island roads, but attached several conditions for future projects.
Musical Treat after Thanksgiving
In an off-season treat for Islanders, the Martha’s Vineyard Chamber Music Society offers its annual Thanksgiving concert on Saturday, Nov. 30 at 7:30 p.m. at Edgartown’s Old Whaling Church.
