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 4, 2014
Moon and Ruby Red Mars
The gibbous moon will appear near the bright red planet Mars tomorrow night. A third celestial object is the bright star Spica, the principal star in the zodiacal constellation Virgo. For those of us out looking at fireworks tonight, the first quarter moon will be fairly high in the southwestern sky. The moon is in…
Bravo! Celebrated Theatre Career Shows No Sign of Stopping
Robert Brustein was honored on Sunday for his long career in the theatre. Mr. Brustein is a playwright, director, teacher and mentor who founded both the Yale Repertory Theatre and the American Repertory Theater.
At Home on the Water; Making Everyone Else Feel Good, Too
On a hazy, warm Monday morning in June, the Edgartown harbor master pulls into his parking spot adjacent to his office on Morse street in Edgartown. Charlie Blair has barely parked his battered blue Suburban before he jumps out and asks: “What kind of shape are we in?”
What’s in a Name? The Horn Could Blow for Thee, Woods Hole
It might not be obvious, but right from the start in 1950, the Steamship Authority has followed fairly clear lines of thought when it comes to naming ferries and freight boats.
Gazette Wins National Newspaper Awards
The Vineyard Gazette’s special coverage of coastal erosion last summer has won a first-place award for best investigative or in-depth story or series from the National Newspaper Association.
Hungry Sharks Dine on Bravehearts
The Martha’s Vineyard Sharks snapped a six-game losing streak Tuesday in an away contest against the Worcester Bravehearts, but fell 5-1 to the league-leading Brockton Rox on returning to their home field the next night.
Please Adopt Us
An air of satisfaction prevails at the animal shelter these days due to the outstanding success of the garden party last Monday.
One Year Later, Schifter House Settles In
A year has passed since Richard and Jennifer Schifter took a plunge into the Vineyard unknown and moved their 8,000-square-foot house away from an eroding Chappaquiddick bluff. Looking back at the complex project this month, parties involved pronounce the project a success.
Land Bank Revenues: June 27
The Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank reported revenues of $277,872.53 for the business week ending on Friday, June 27, 2014. The land bank receives its funds from a two per cent fee charged on many Vineyard real estate transactions. Much of the land bank revenue last week came from the town of Tisbury, where five transactions…
Let Us Go Then, You and I, to Eat Cheese
The Grey Barn Farm in Chilmark started with just three cows. Now there are 25 Dutch Belted ladies grazing the fields, as well as pigs and chickens.
Independence Day, 2014
Early summer arrived like a small lurch on the Vineyard this year, as if someone had hit the gas pedal a little too hard. Clear June days with warm sunshine and cool evenings beneath star-splashed inky skies are in the rearview mirror now, replaced by the heat and humidity that portend the long, lazy beach…
Vineyard Notebook
I am told that multiflora roses are invasive and that it was all a mistake when the first of them were planted in the 1950s or 1960s to border up-Island fields. It is true that I must now duck under a sharp-thorned multiflora rose bush to get to my compost heap, but why should I…
Objects in Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear
Near the end of the school year my son had a field trip to the Boston Museum of Science. As I drove him to the ferry I put on some traveling music, Billy Bragg singing Woody Guthrie tunes.
Retire Pilgrim
With the Pilgrim nuclear power plant now operating on an extended license and three of the same vintage and design General Electric reactors at Fukushima still dangerously out of control, I think it is worthwhile reviewing just what the federal government’s rationale for spawning the commercial nuclear power industry was in the first place.
Conflict Resolution
It saddens me that, once again, I feel the need to display signs on my lawn, house, car, and clothing that say “Don’t Bomb Iraq.” President Obama, Sens. Edward Markey and Elizabeth Warren, and Rep. Bill Keating: please take steps to nonviolently resolve the Middle Eastern conflicts. Chris FriedVineyard Haven
Pursuit of Truth
The Fourth of July is a tale in which we learned it is not unpatriotic to question authority, hence our independence of the king. There are other principles upon which we have agreed to abide by, uniting us over our differences. One is the importance and pursuit of truth and justice. We know there is…
Off-Color Remark
Retire Pilgrim Editors, Vineyard Gazette: With the Pilgrim nuclear power plant now operating on an extended license and three of the same vintage and design General Electric reactors at Fukushima still dangerously out of control, I think it is worthwhile reviewing just what the federal government’s rationale for spawning the commercial nuclear power industry was…
Banner Day
From the Vineyard Gazette edition of July 6, 1934: The night before the Fourth in Edgartown was described as the quietest in years. Last year’s night before was uneventful, but this year exceeded it in calm, and Chief Geddis said it was the most tranquil in his five years with the force, Special officers Herbert…
Moped Driver Killed in Up-Island Collision
The driver of a moped was killed Wednesday afternoon in an accident on State Road involving a moped and a truck. The accident took place two days before the Fourth of July holiday as the Island was beginning to fill with people and traffic.
Downwind and Smelling Danger
Having lived for 35 years downwind of the Indian Point (IP) nuclear station on the shores of the Hudson River in New York, and teaching physical science at a college nearby, our proximity to Entergy’s Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Plymouth has alarmed me, especially since the Fukushima catastrophe three years ago.
Graphic Report: Outdoors with Nelson Bryant
Watch Nelson and Jeff Bryant fishing on the North Shore of the Vineyard.
Wilderness Training
Sawyer Klebs, 18, of West Tisbury, recently completed a semester-long wilderness expedition in the Rocky Mountains with the National Outdoor Leadership School.
Real Estate Transactions: June 23 – June 29
Aquinnah Donald R. Silva purchased Moshup Trail land in Aquinnah from Hamilton F. Cammann, TRS and Nickm Realty Trust for $300,000 on June 26. Chilmark Brickyard Fields LLC purchased 14 and 37 Brickyard Road in Chilmark from Great Rock Bight LP, Great Field Nominee Trust and Kendall P. Harris, TRS for $2,200,000 on June 26.…
Springfield Educator Named as High School Principal
The head of a vocational school in Springfield has been hired as the new principal for the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School. Gilbert Traverso was chosen for his leadership and people skills, superintendent James H. Weiss said.
Raising the Curtain on Stories With Purpose; Another Summer of Great Films
This year’s Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival will be the biggest in its history, with screenings taking place around the Island.
Summer and the Reading’s Easy
Comic juggler Bill Ross entertains while the kids munch popcorn and gear up for this year’s summer reading programs on Saturday, July 5, beginning at 10:30 a.m. at the Agricultural Hall in West Tisbury.
At the Bridge Table
I hate to leave the Island in the summer, but there were four good reasons why my wife and I traveled to Europe in June.
Two Artists’ Paths Converge, Merging Friendship and Craft
Artists and friends Doris Lubell and Ilka List decided to show their work together in a visual arts show at the A Gallery. Deep Diving: Paintings, Drawing and Sculpture, will hang from July 5 through July 17.
Front Row Seat for the Creative Process
In her new play Small Mouths, Small Sounds, writer Bess Wohl follows six city dwellers as they embark on a five-day spiritual retreat to heal their lives in upstate New York.
Helping Men Get a Leg Up in the Kitchen
For more than 10 years, Steven Raichlen resisted writing a men’s cookbook.
Stage Delight, Not Fright for Seasoned Performer
On Saturday night, the lights will dim in the Whaling Church in Edgartown as Livingston Taylor strums the first notes of his set.
Campers of a Feather Flock Together
Through a twig archway in a pocket of the forest, a group of children played in the dirt and on some old tree stumps. In the background of their play space, known fondly as secret spot number two, stood several stick structures, remnants from the past year. Last summer, the older campers at Felix Neck…
Sailing Was Faithful Companion to Kennedy Family
The Victura: The Kennedys, a Sailboat, and the Sea, chronicles the Kennedy family’s deep connection to a sailboat and sailing.
High Body Count Tough on Relationships
Terminal City is number 16 in Linda Fairstein’s Alex Cooper series. Ms. Fairstein will be signing books at Bunch of Grapes on July 4.
A Chapter a Day Keeps Retirement Away
His name is Skip. Her name is Kathleen. They collaborated to write A Martha’s Vineyard Love Story, just published this week.
Holmes Hole Fleet Rides the Elements
West northwest winds and a flooding tide combined to create a tough go on Sunday as the Holmes Hole fleet took to the Sound for two races. HHSA racers have already seen more of Course #2 in 2014 than in the previous 10 years, and the elements made it memorable.
Stars and Stripes Concert Sets the Gold Standard for Giving Back
This Saturday evening, the Stars and Stripes music festival to benefit the YMCA will celebrate its fourth year at Flatbread Company, featuring a lineup stacked with Neon Gold artists. Charli XCX will perform. Her collaboration with Iggy Azalea on the song Fancy is currently the top song on the Billboard Hot 100.
Charter School Breaks Ground on New Science Wing
Inside a small room at the Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School, recent graduate Greg Allan manipulated walls and textures in a three-dimensional modeling program on one of the computers in the lab, occasionally looking at a simple sheet of copy paper with partial blueprints on it. The walls and designs he created weren’t some abstract…
Free Shuttle Aims to Ease Summer Parking Crunch in Menemsha
Chilmark selectmen are hoping to provide some relief for drivers looking to park in Menemsha. A free shuttle service between a parking lot on Tabor House Road and Menemsha harbor will begin August 1.
New Superintendent Named for State Forest
Virginia Dautreuil, 35, started training Wednesday morning for her new role as superintendent of the Manuel F. Correllus State Forest. A Connecticut native, Ms. Dautreuil is the third person and first woman to hold the post.
Vineyard Haven Town Column: July 4
Can Martha’s Vineyard take three Nancy Gardellas? I hope so, because it is happening now. My sister in law, the redheaded Nancy Gardella, arrived on the second boat today with her son Jonathan.
Oak Bluffs Town Column: July 4
There can no longer be any doubt that summer has arrived, bringing people home and to visit Oak Bluffs for what looks like one more busy, bustling season.
Edgartown Town Column: July 4
Well, happy 4th of July. While I am writing this, I have been watching the weather and I wonder what this day is going to be like.
On Chappy: July 4
The switch has been flipped — spring is off, summer is on. Time to hide on Chappy. I’d like to talk about the weather now, as it’s a great space filler, and it appears that there’s a storm a-brewing.
Aquinnah Town Column: July 4
Wow! That is about all I can say after attending the 50th reunion of the class of 1964 of Pleasantville High School in New York over the weekend.
Sheriff’s Meadow Hosts First Lecture in New Series
Jesse Ausubel, director of the Program for the Human Environment at the Rockefeller University in New York city, will deliver a lecture at the Old Whaling Church in Edgartown on Tuesday, July 8, at 7:30 p.m.
Fourth Fanfare is Postponed Due to Storm
Flags were hung and picnics prepared, but many Fourth of July festivities, including the centerpiece Edgartown parade and fireworks, had been postponed by a day as the first hurricane of the season approached the northeast.
Music to Guide Us; Rosanne Cash and John Leventhal Are Dynamic Duo
Rosanne Cash and John Leventhal, her husband and guitar player, performed at Flatbread Company last night in a concert to benefit the relocation of the Gay Head Lighthouse. A live auction netted $27,000. The music was priceless.
Tap-in at The Yard
Tap the Yard, a two-week festival of Rhythm and Beats began on Wednesday and runs through July 12. The festival brings back to the Island some the best tap performers in the world.
Guest Preacher Comes to Union Chapel
The Honorable Sharon Pratt, J.D., former mayor of Washington, D.C., will be the guest preacher at Union Chapel in Oak Bluffs on Sunday, July 6.
Paper and Canvas
Brooks Robards and Hermine Hull will visit the West Tisbury library on Tuesday, July 8 at 5 p.m. to talk about their new book, On Island, which features Ms. Robards’ poetry and Ms. Hull’s paintings.
Featherstone Gala Looks to the Future
Crystal balls are optional at Featherstone Center for the Arts’ upcoming gala, Looking Into the Future. But you could get your palm read or check out the belly dancers.
The Counsel Speaks
The Peter Simon Gallery will host Alan Dershowitz on Sunday, July 6, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the store on Main street in Vineyard Haven.
Dance Like a Kid Again
Get your happy feet on as the Family Dance-O-Rama kicks off on Monday, July 7, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Flatbread on Airport Road in Edgartown.
Ramblin’ Roses
By the way, a climber rose is a misnomer. They do not actually climb. In the old books they are referred to as long cane roses. The canes need assistance of some sort to “climb” along a fence or pergola.
Straight Shooter
Dick Carlson of Vineyard Haven shot perfect rounds of skeet at the Martha’s Vineyard Rod & Gun Club earlier this month, dusting 25 straight targets for the first time with his 28-gauge shotgun.
Islanders Run to Support Veterans
On Saturday, July 19, Alysha Norbury of Oak Bluffs, and Leigh Bauer of Edgartown, will support returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and their families by participating in the 5th annual Run-Walk to Home Base.
Private Gardens Open for Touring
Six private gardens in Chilmark, Edgartown and West Tisbury will open to the public through the Garden Conservancy’s Open Days program, at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, July 9.
Days of Discovery
Keeping the kids busy and engaged over the summer just got a little easier. The Martha’s Vineyard Museum’s summer Discovery Days program began July 1.
Seasonal Art Space Opens
Artspace, a new seasonal collaborative showcase and studios located at 505 State Road in West Tisbury, will hold an opening reception from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 9.
Kaija Nivala Inducted into National Honor Society
Kaija Nivala of Vineyard Haven was recently inducted into the Psi Chi National Honor Society.
Olivia de Geofroy Named to Dean’s List
Olivia de Geofroy of West Tisbury was named to the dean’s list for the spring 2014 semester at Westminster Choir College of Rider University.
Edgartown Student Named to Dean’s List
Kathryn Antonsson of Edgartown was named to the dean’s list for the spring 2014 semester at Hartwick College.
Strapped for Strawberries
In a blink of an eye, those local luscious red orbs are gone. They had their day in the sun and we had a few days of delicious delirium when they were ripe and ready for eating.
Concerns Aired Over Safety at Pilgrim Nuclear Plant
Activists from Cape Cod who are pushing for the closure of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Plymouth brought their cause to the Island at a public forum early this week. Fukushima was a wake-up call, they said.
Alzheimer’s Disease Expert Will Speak at Summer Institute
The Summer Institute of the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center begins its season next week on Thursday, July 10, with Rudolph Tanzi, the world’s leading expert on research into Alzheimer’s.
Monday Nights at the Playhouse
This Monday, July 7, begins the Monday Night Specials at the Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse with Edward L. Beck’s Sweetened Water on the Patricia Neal Stage.
Spellbinding Storytelling From the Moth
The Moth is returning to the Vineyard for the third straight summer. The Tabernacle in Oak Bluffs will once again play host to the live storytelling performances hosted by the NPR show on Saturday, August 9.
Waban! Outdoor Music Festival Gonna Rock the Park
The Martha’s Vineyard Sound Festival is coming. Are you ready? On Saturday, July 12, from 3 to 9 p.m., Waban Park in Oak Bluffs will be turned into a nonstop concert venue.
Wonder of Puppet Theatre
Sense of Wonder Creations and the Permanent Endowment Fund are sponsoring a visit by the Arm of The Sea Theatre puppets.
Regatta Weekend
The Edgartown Yacht Club hosts its 91st Annual Regatta beginning July 10 and continue through July 12.
Seafood Soiree
Sail MV hosts its major fundraising event at the Tisbury Wharf with the harbor as a backdrop beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 10.
Revelry In the Road
The town of Tisbury throws itself a birthday party on Tuesday, July 8, as it hosts the annual Tisbury Street Fair from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on the Main street of Vineyard Haven.
Shearwaters Run Deep
Shearwaters are a part of a group of birds known as pelagic species. They spend all their lives, except during breeding, on the open ocean.
East Chop Town Column: July 4
You can’t spend much time in the presence of Ivo Meisner without concluding you are in the presence of a unique individual.
West Tisbury Town Column: July 4
Welcome to summer and all the people it brings along with it. Traffic is heavy everywhere, even over at the landfill. Just about every building in town is now occupied.
Smells Like Summer; Baby Skunks Hold Court on Alley’s Porch
While Rhonda Backus was working inside Alley’s General Store last weekend she noticed a crowd gathering outside. “It was a vibe of when the president drives by,” she said. But instead of watching a motorcade, the crowd had gathered to see a procession of black and white baby skunks.
Chilmark Town Column: July 4
Chilmark is anticipating the usual wonderful Fourth of July weekend and hoping that the fine weather of this week past will continue through the holiday.
Tickets on Sale for Food and Wine Festival
Tickets are now available for the seventh annual Martha’s Vineyard Food & Wine Festival, which takes place this year from October 16 through October 19. The four day festival will feature 250 different wines, 25 culinary personalities, and several local chefs.
After Alleged Testing Irregularity, Some Vineyard Students Must Retake AP Exams
Some newly graduated seniors and their younger schoolmates at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School are being asked to retake certain Advanced Placement exams following an allegation of improper testing conditions. Makeup exams have been scheduled.
Tisbury School Honor Roll
The Tisbury School has announced its honor roll for the fourth quarter of the 2013-2014 academic year.
Named to UMass Dartmouth Dean’s List
Christopher Maciel of Vineyard Haven and Daniel Kaeka of West Tisbury were named to the dean’s list for the 2014 spring semester at UMass Dartmouth.
Fair Changes: No Flying Pigs This Year, Mystery Animal Attraction Instead
There will be no racing pigs this year, but there will be a motorcycle contest. And poultry farmers take note: your prize-winning hens, roosters and pullets must pass a health test this month in order to be entered in the fair.
Martha’s Vineyard Airport Commission Defends Its Conduct
Members of the airport commission have declared they will serve out the remainder of their terms, despite a call from the Dukes County Commission to consider stepping down. A letter was sent to the county commission this week.
MV United Boys Win State Championship
The best youth soccer teams in Massachusetts competed at the state Tournament of Champions this weekend. The MV United boys team took home the championship in the under 18 bracket and did not allow a single goal against them in the tournament.
Tisbury School Recognizes Students
The Tisbury School held its Recognition Day for the fifth to eighth grades on Tuesday, June 17. The following day, they graduated 31 students from the eighth grade class.
Roberts and Hall Wed in West Tisbury
Sarah Roberts and Chester Hall were married on Saturday, June 28, at the home of the bride’s parents on the north shore of West Tisbury.
Menemsha Sails Away With Win in First Vineyard Herreshoff Cup
Sunny skies and crisp summer breezes combined with two full days of stellar competition as the Menemsha Pond Racers won the inaugural Vineyard Herreshoff Cup this weekend. The competition was held June 28 and 29 on Menemsha Pond and featuring sailors from the Edgartown Yacht Club and the Menemsha Pond Racers.
Gabriela Herman and Tyson Evans Wed in Chilmark
Gabriela Herman and Tyson Evans were married on June 21 at a private residence overlooking Stonewall Beach in Chilmark.
At Museum’s Big Night, Fundraising Milestone Announced
A $24 million project to build a new Martha’s Vineyard Museum in Vineyard Haven is on track to raise some $15 million in cash and pledges by the end of the year. This was the good news at the museum’s annual Evening of Discovery, the principal annual fundraiser held on Saturday night.
Toby Riseborough Named to Dean’s List
Toby Riseborough of Vineyard Haven was named to the dean’s list for the spring 2014 semester at Rhode Island College.
Isabella Bennett Earns Honors
Isabella Bennett, daughter of William and Beatrice Bennett of West Tisbury, earned term honors for the spring semester 2014 at Skidmore College.
