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
March 13, 2015
Harsh Winter Shucks for Shellfishermen
Vineyard inshore fisheries almost came to a halt this winter, with ice more than a foot thick in some places. “This is probably one of the worst, if not the worst, winter we have ever had in terms of losing days fishing,” said West Tisbury shellfish constable Raymond Gale.
Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival Gets Ready for Its Close-up
On a recent spring-like afternoon in downtown Chilmark, as the Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival staff walked from their offices on South Road to the Chilmark Community Center, the sun burst through a patch of Beetlebung trees.
As Costs Rise for New Building, Library Asks Selectmen for Help
Nearly a year after contractors broke ground on a new Edgartown library, the project is overbudget and behind schedule.
Concerns Raised About Oak Bluffs Park and Ride Plan
The town of Oak Bluffs is moving forward with its plans for a park and ride lot to help alleviate summer traffic downtown, but during a public hearing Tuesday some expressed concern that the project was moving too quickly.
Dreamland Unveils Loft, an Adult Game Room
Late last week, Dreamland in Oak Bluffs opened as Loft at Dreamland, an year-round adult game room and bar.
March Omens
In praise of the warm weather and approach of spring, this week the editors looked back to Henry Beetle Hough and two of his essays on the coming season.
Birth of a New Dad Is Labor of Love
I have the night shift. The preferred shift, really. The baby sleeps (more) at night. Etienne is the baby’s name. Etienne is French for Stephen.
For Him, Going Green Meant Protecting the Laws of Nature
The waterfront lost a friend this past week. Retired sergeant William L. Searle 3rd, of the Environmental State Police died on March 5.
In Praise of Edo Potter
The Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank had a retirement party this week for Edith W. Potter, a Chappaquiddick resident and longtime conservationist.
Land Bank Revenues: March 6
The Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank reported revenues of $111,195 for the business week ending on Friday, March 6, 2015.
Pondering the Call of Mt. Snowdrift
Any resident of Edgartown ambitious to climb Mt. Everest doesn’t have to go far to find a challenging training ground.
Rising Home Values Not Always Welcome
In 1957, struggling to make a living in the oyster business on Tisbury Great Pond, my husband and I built our house off Music street.
Wild Weather
New England Weather! There was never anything like it! There still isn’t!
Save the Day
I am writing to urge everyone to support the Martha’s Vineyard Center for Living in the quest for a new home for the center and the Supportive Day Program.
Speak Out
The following letter was addressed to the West Tisbury selectmen.
In the Words of the Masters, Great Dialogue Sets the Stage
The title of John Hough Jr.’s latest book is quite specific — The Fiction Writer’s Guide to Dialogue.
High School Athletes Named to All-Star Teams
A winter of success for the regional high school athletes concluded Monday as the final names for conference all-stars were released.
Please Adopt Us
An adorable dog was surrendered last week. His name is Ticona. He is best described as a small brown dog of indeterminate origin, part Chihuahua, part anyone’s guess.,/p>
Real Estate Transactions: March 2 to March 8
Kenneth A. DiPietro and Corinne K. DiPietro purchased 7 Sunset Lane in Aquinnah from Hajjar Family LP II for $2,137,500 on March 3.
St. Paddy’s Day Parade
What it lacks in length it makes up in spirit — welcome to the fourth annual Martha’s Vineyard St. Patrick’s Day parade held on Saturday, March 14.
Extreme Spring Tides
Spring is a week away and one of the change in season signs is “spring tide.”
County Commission Appoints New Airport Commissioners
The Dukes County commission has ousted two members of the Martha’s Vineyard Airport commission in favor of what they called “a new beginning.” Robert Rosenbaum, Clarence A. (Trip) Barnes 3rd and Myron Garfinkle are the new appointees.
SSA Makes Case for Woods Hole Terminal Project at Vineyard Meeting
Renovation of the Woods Hole terminal was the chief topic of conversation at a special meeting held on the Vineyard Tuesday. The meeting was convened in response to concern from Island residents about Steamship Authority spending and rate increases.
Vineyard Haven Town Column: March 13
Is this significant? This is our second month in a row with a Friday the 13th. I prefer to think of it as good luck. As I struggle to become more adept on the computer I am leaving a trail of laughing friends on Islanders Talk, among them Kara Best and Hunter Thomas. I made…
On Chappy: March 13
Each winter I try to cross a couple of items off my to-do list, while I have a bit more free time. This winter I put a sump pump in the basement and had a son.
Edgartown Town Column: March 13
After the winter we have been having I think we can say that this week’s weather has been balmy. It has hit 40 degrees and we were all ready to pull out the shorts; running around without the jacket and gloves was a good thing.
Chilmark Town Column: March 13
Chilmark is busy looking for signs of spring. I am sure they are all around us . . . if only we could see over the snow drifts. Ice is still drifting around in the harbor and outside. The pieces are huge and there are lots of them. Everyone says, “I never saw anything like…
Aquinnah Town Column: March 13
The weather is improving, with a heat wave on Monday when the temperature reached 46 degrees. On March 12, it literally snowed the entire day not stopping for one minute. It was a light snowfall and the accumulation was not as significant as in February, but enough of the snow for this season. Of course,…
Hello, Fox
Lisa and Jackson Tadeo-Waite of Chilmark announce the birth of a daughter, Fox Buttercup Taddeo-Waite, born on March 10 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital.
Oak Bluffs Town Column: March 13
Circuit avenue is likely to look substantially different by the time the snowbirds return, with more changes since, well, probably the 1950s.
Slow Food Brunch, Hold the GMOs
Brunch, the Slow Food way, is heading to the Chilmark Community Center on Sunday, March 15, from 9 a.m. to noon.
Grammy Winner Comes to Performing Arts Center
Save the date for April 14 when Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn will perform at the Performing Arts Center at the regional high school.
Feeling Fine at Hospital Health Fair
The annual Martha’s Vineyard Hospital Health Fair offers an opportunity for free screenings for cholesterol, melanoma, hearing loss, blood pressure and your body mass index.
Mind and Body Travel Together
On Tuesday, March 17, Elliott Dacher, MD, will present a talk at the Vineyard Haven Public Library called The Meeting of Science and Spirit: Implications for Health and Healing.
Louisa Gould Named Executive Director at WMVY
Friends of mvyradio have announced that Louisa Gould has been named executive director of the radio station.
Know, Know, Know Your Boat
The Martha’s Vineyard detachment of the Coast Guard Auxiliary will be offering a 10-week Boating Skills and Seamanship (BS&S) course beginning Wednesday, March 25.
Photography Exhibit at West Tisbury Library
The West Tisbury library will host an artist reception for photographer Max Skjoldebrand on Sunday, March 15, at 3 p.m.
Everyday Inspiration
On Sunday, March 15, Featherstone will host a reception from 4 to 6 p.m. for its latest opening, Take a Seat: The Chair Show.
Hope Springs Eternal, Even in Winter
I have a blooming snowdrop, a small but significant miracle. It only emerged as it is in a bare protected location.
Homing in on Kestrels
It is finally getting a bit warmer, but since there is still snow on the ground, we need more signs of spring. This news about kestrels may help.
Offshore Ale Hosts Fundraiser for a Girl With a Lot of Moxie
On Sunday, March 15, the Offshore Ale Co. in Oak Bluffs will hold an all day fundraiser for Samantha Caldwell, a third grader at the Tisbury School fighting brain cancer. Throughout the day, 100 per cent of food profits will be donated to the Caldwell family.
Proposed Tourism Funding Cuts Raise Concern for Vineyard Economy
State legislators and regional tourism directors are pushing back against proposed budget cuts for the state’s tourism office, which they said could hurt the Vineyard’s cornerstone tourism industry.
Sen. Edward Brooke Is Fondly Remembered at National Cathedral Service
A large number of dignitaries and friends from the Vineyard attended the funeral service of Sen. Edward William Brooke 3rd at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday.
Santander Bank Plans to Close Chilmark Branch
Santander Bank will be closing its branch on South Road in Chilmark at the end of May. A spokeswoman for the company told the Gazette Tuesday that the decision to close the up-Island branch came after a regular review of branches and customer patterns.
Rapid Response and Friend’s Barking Save Dog in Icy Katama Bay
Quick action this morning on the part of the Edgartown fire department saved the life of a dog caught in icy Katama Bay. The other hero in the rescue was Barley, an Australian shepherd, whose barking drew attention to Beijo’s plight.
Donation Supports ACE MV Needs Survey
The Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank Charitable Foundation Trust awarded ACE MV $5,000 to support its adult education strategic needs assessment.
West Tisbury Town Column: March 13
Sprinkle a little salt over your left shoulder before reading this column for luck. Spring will be here in just one week and that will not be soon enough for many of us.
Follow the Tracks to Find Island Animals
Wildlife tracker Tom Brown Jr. observes, “each day’s new landscape is like a new page, alive with the writings of animals.”
Irish Eyes are Playing
On Thursday, March 12, Jemima James is hosting an Island Moon Coffeehouse at the Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse showcasing local talent going Irish.
Late Start for Spring ACE MV Classes
Spring classes at ACE MV have been moved back a week due to snowstorms. Classes now begin the week of March 17 to 19, and there’s still time to register.
Selectmen Races Shaping Up
Voters in at least two Island towns will see contested races for town selectmen when they head to the ballot box this April. Races are shaping up in Oak Bluffs and Edgartown, two of four Island towns that finalize their annual town election ballots this week. Others towns have no contested races.
Violet Arrives
Matthew V. and Paula DelloRusso of Edgartown announce the birth of a daugher, Violet Molina DelloRusso, born on March 6.
Welcome, Bryer
Elizabeth Davis Gale and Alec Gale of Vineyard Haven announce the birth of a son, Bryer Ray Gale, born on March 4.
Chappy Ferry Battles Ice to Open Passage Across Harbor
In a fight won inch by inch and hour by hour, an excavator aboard the On Time III dug a channel through a field of ice in Edgartown harbor Saturday morning, freeing the Chappy ferry to run for the first time since 8 p.m. Friday night.
SSA Plans Reconfiguration of Vineyard Haven Lot
The Steamship Authority is moving forward with plans to reconfigure its staging area and parking lot in Vineyard Haven in order to better accommodate vehicle traffic and prevent cars from backing up into Water street.
