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
August 14, 2015
University of Massachusetts Boston Dean’s List
Katherine Boyd and Danielle Clermont, both of Vineyard Haven, were named to the spring 2015 dean’s list at the University of Massachusetts Boston.
Kendra Mills Graduates
Kendra Mills, 18, of Vineyard Haven graduated from Bard College at Simon’s Rock with an associate of arts degree in liberal arts.
Attorneys for Tribe, Town Square off in Federal Court about Aquinnah Casino
A proposed Aquinnah casino reached legal and political crossroads this week, as the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) asked a federal judge to validate its gambling project just days before its members are to vote on a bid to scrap it.
Once a Duck Hunting Club, Still a Paradise Thanks to Generosity
The draw began with duck hunting in the early 1900s. Tisbury Great Pond was a haven for waterfowl, and wealthy Boston gentlemen took notice.
Quiet Dinners, Golf, Low Profile Set Tone for President’s Vacation
President Obama and his family had a low-key start to their annual Vineyard summer vacation this week, balancing time at home out of the public eye in Chilmark with trips out for meals with friends. There has also been beach time — and for the President of course, plenty of time on Island golf courses.
Fair Stays True to Agricultural Roots
With the 154th annual Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Society Livestock Show and Fair less than a week away, farmers across the Island are preparing goats and alpacas, tomatoes and berries to compete for blue ribbons.
For Islanders, Ties to Coastal Ponds Run Deep
While the Vineyard is perhaps best known for the ocean, Vineyarders have deep ties to the ponds that were carved into the Island landscape some 20,000 years ago.
Please Adopt Us
With summer in full swing and events like Illumination Night and fireworks occurring in Oak Bluffs, this is your friendly reminder that bringing dogs to these occasions is a very bad idea. Please leave your furry friends at home, safe and sound.
Land Bank Revenues: August 7
The Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank reported revenues of $130,808.64 for the business week ending on Friday, August 7, 2015.
Real Estate Transactions: August 3 to August 9
Dominik Baric purchased 19 Renear street in Vineyard Haven from Debra A. Shelton for $485,000 on August 3.
New Exhibit Highlights Native American Journey
The Aquinnah Cultural Center is hosting the exhibit Captured: 1614 curated by Plymouth 400, which commemorates the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the Mayflower and the settlers’ relationship with the native populations.
FAA Finds Deficiencies at Vineyard Airport
The airport is under an Oct. 15 deadline to correct several deficiencies in airport operations or face potential sanctions, including loss of its status as a commercial airport. The airport manager has taken an unscheduled vacation.
Drawbridge Must Stay Down During Final Phase of Project
As the years-long, hugely expensive Lagoon Pond drawbridge project enters its final phase, state contractors confirmed this week that the bridge must stay in the down position from Oct. 1 to Jan. 31.
From Ice Age to Today, Ginkgo Prevails
Few things can be found on both the streets of Manhattan and the frozen tundra of the Ice Age. The ginkgo tree is one of them. Sir Peter Crane will speak at the Polly Hill Arboretum about the long history of the tree.
Chappy Pong Table Tennis Tournament
Competition is heating up on Chappaquiddick this weekend for the eighth annual all-Island Chappy Pong table tennis tournament at the Chappy Community Center.
Brilliance Under Fire; Trial of Galileo Stirs Creative Juices
Amidst shouts in Italian and a few anachronistic jokes, James Reston Jr.’s play, Galileo’s Torch, based on the life and trial of Galileo Galilei had its Martha’s Vineyard premiere Monday night in a reading at Vineyard Playhouse directed by Scott Barrow.
Tick Forum
With Martha’s Vineyard a hot spot for tick-borne illnesses, Polly Hill Arboretum will be hosting the Cape Cod Municipal Health Group next week for a free forum about the issue.
Edgartown Town Column: August 14
Now this is my kind of weather. Cool at nights so you can sleep without everything sticking to you. Then warm enough to enjoy outside but a nice breeze to keep it comfortable.
School Tests
As if a whiff of fall in the air wasn’t enough, the unexpected resignation last week of regional high school principal Gil Traverso put summer officially on notice.
Just One of the Guys on the Sandlot
Softball players at Flanders Field in Chilmark paid tribute last Sunday to Jerome Kohlberg, who died two weeks ago at the age of 90.
Barnstorming with His Films, Director Embraces Island Life
My Cape and Islands tour with my new film, Peter and John, has given me plenty to think about — and an abundance of stories to share.
V-J Day Still Music to the Ears and Heart
Seventy years ago Saturday, World War II ended with the surrender of Japan. The other day I said to a middle-aged friend, “Saturday is V-J Day.” She replied, “What’s V-J Day?”
Priority One: Everyone Stays on Board
I never really relax while underway in a sailboat. I’m constantly looking and listening for new sights and sounds.
President’s Day
So now another President of the United States has visited Martha’s Vineyard, bringing the total number to seven. John Adams came in 1760 to visit his friend Jonathan Allen at Chilmark.
Conservation Giant
On March 5, 1983 I put up an osprey pole for Jerry and Nancy Kohlberg on their Chilmark property at the foot of Abel’s Hill.
Portrait of an Executive Director
Thirteen years ago, an urban planner and designer came to the Island from Montreal as the new executive director of the Martha’s Vineyard Commission.
Tighter Gun Control
Way back in the 1930s my father and his brother, as well as my two older brothers enjoyed firing their .22 rifles in target practice.
Man-of-War Prescription
It isn’t new to find the Atlantic Portuguese man-of-war along the coastal beaches of the Vineyard.
Island Joy
Thank you Martha’s Vineyard for another practically perfect summer.
Height of Irony
After a decade under the reign of philosopher-king Jon Stewart, one might think irony had lost its power to shock.
A Doctor’s Goodbye
It is difficult to believe, but I have been practicing on Martha’s Vineyard at Vineyard Complementary Medicine for nine years now.
Beers and Bikes
I was a bit surprised to read in the “on the rock” section of The Vine, the Wheel Happy ad encouraging bikers to participate in “Thirsty Thursday” bike and brew tour.
Presidential Applause
Welcome, Mr. President. Just a note to applaud and thank you for your diplomatic successes.
Long, Beautiful Hair
The musical Hair was fantastic. Each person performing was exceptional.
African American Film Festival Overflows With Films and Events
The 13th annual Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival opened on Monday night with Mavis!, the story of Mavis Staples, and the audience was roaring, crying, laughing and singing along with the film.
Kids Know Best at Cinema Circus
In advance of the upcoming Cinema Circus event, two Kid Critics reviewed some of the short films that will be shown on the afternoon of August 15.
A Very Long Life, Still Well Lived
Friends of all ages from up-Island and down gathered at the Granary Gallery in West Tisbury last week for a belated 100th birthday party for longtime Vineyard resident, artist, antiques dealer, promoter of Island arts Brandon Wight.
Farmers, Clowns, Films, Peaches; West Tisbury Is the Main Stage
Not to be outdone by harbor festivals and street fairs, West Tisbury is hosting a West Tisbury Day on Saturday, August 15.
Pro Am Tennis Tourney
The first annual Martha’s Vineyard Community Tennis Pro Am, held at Farm Neck last Saturday, was a smashing success.
At the Bridge Table: August 14
The next time your partner pre-empts and you hold a strong hand, consider playing the contract in partner’s suit. Otherwise, you may be on your own.
Andrew Moore, Carving a Life Out of Paint and Passion
On Sunday, Andrew Moore’s paintings were reintroduced at the Granary Gallery on Old County Road in West Tisbury. The artist decided to join the Granary Gallery so he could spend less time marketing and selling, and more time holding a paintbrush.
Home and History Sow Seeds of Art That Bloom Each Summer
On Saturday artist Ashley Medowski celebrated her annual art reception at her Lambert’s Cove gallery, housed in what was once her great-grandfather’s barn.
Art With a Mission is Natural Choice at Gay Head Gallery
The Gay Head Gallery sees itself as more than just a place to display art. Instead, Megan Ottens-Sargent, the gallery’s owner, has reinvented the space in the past few years to give it a mission. Specifically, one of environmental activism.
Ellis Paul Pays It Forward at Alex’s Place
Ellis Paul may not be a Vineyard native, but it sure feels that way.
Front Lines of Ebola
Father Augustine Bangalie will give a talk Friday night about the Ebola crisis in Africa and how faith is a part of the solution.
Rev. Raphael Warnock Returns to Vineyard
Rev. Raphael Warnock, senior minister at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, will be the guest preacher on Sunday, August 16, at the West Tisbury Congregational Church.
CB Stark Trunk Show
CB Stark’s new Edgartown store will feature the work of jewelry designers John Hardy and William Henry on Saturday, August 15.
Vineyard Voices on Film
The oral history collection, Vineyard Voices curated by Linsey Lee at the Martha’s Vineyard Museum, has been an Island staple for many years now.
Symposium Week
It is a big week for symposiums on the Vineyard. so get out the date book.
Spreading the Love of Food Around
Dan Pashman’s book is called Eat More Better, and it spells out the precise ways in which a person can improve his or her eating experience.
Talking Civil Rights, From Selma to Ferguson
In celebration of the anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, members of the Martha’s Vineyard community gathered last week for an event organized by The Advancement Project.
Meteors and Two Giants
There is still time in the nights ahead to enjoy the Perseid meteor shower, which peaked in the wee hours of this morning. Take a look at any hour well after sunset and you might see a late straggler from the shower. The timing with the crescent moon is great. The moon sets in the…
Art and the Island Are Alessandra Petlin’s Secret of Success
Photographer Alessandra Petlin has spent 40 consecutive summers on Martha’s Vineyard at her family’s home on Wayside Farm in Chilmark. But this summer marks a first for the artist. She momentarily stepped out of her Vineyard routine Saturday night to celebrate her first gallery opening, ever.
Where’s Coop? It’s Mike’s Time to Shine in Linda Fairstein’s Latest Novel
Devil’s Bridge is the 17th Alex Cooper thriller by Linda Fairstein. The author explores, with great depth, levels of psychology that help even unfamiliar readers understand why every police officer and City Hall staffer is out to help find Alex Cooper when she goes missing one autumn night.
Nicole Galland Is Barking Up the Right Tree in Love and Art
Nicole Galland adores her dog Leuco, and she said it was fun to write a book in which she could describe a character’s relationship with her dog. In her new novel Stepdog, the character Sara is utterly devoted to her dog Cody.
Handicapping on the High Seas
What price glory? Well, for Holmes Hole sailors it is a reduction of handicap. Woody Bowman’s catboat, Julia Lee, sailed to yet another victory in the B Division on Thursday.
On Chappy: August 14
I’ve been dreaming a lot lately — mostly clouded scenarios of chores unfinished, but peppered amongst the drudgery of my dreamscape have been a few gems. One such jewel was my dream of a Chappy populated by canals.
Vineyard Haven Town Column: August 14
This will be the first Agricultural Fair I have missed in 36 years. I want you all to attend, take pictures, eat the tempura, ride on the big slide and inform me who wins the frying pan toss. Nonna and I send our best wishes to you all. She just had a doctor’s visit and…
Oak Bluffs Town Column: August 14
Ocean Park’s Joseph Sequeira Vera is the fastest 87 year old in Oak Bluffs. He’s one of three 80-something year olds who participate in the local 3K and 5K runs, one by the Martha’s Vineyard NAACP. He’s already selling wolf tickets about the Louis Sullivan run he expects to win on August 22.
Summer Taxpayers Air Concerns With Oak Bluffs Selectmen
Issues included parking in residential neighborhoods, beginning with an increase in commercial vehicles parked off Pacific avenue. Selectmen listened and responded.
In Praise of Snap Peas and Proper Rain Gear
I love rain. Tuesday was a personal favorite. We worked outside. I cannot say enough about proper rain gear.
When in Drought, the Wildflowers Grow
We are in a drought, and we can see its effect on lawns that are not irrigated.
Barren Landscapes Are Tough on Island Birds
Fall mowing can be detrimental because it produces a barren habitat for late-fall and winter resident birds as there is no cover to protect them from predators
Edgartown Mini-Park Gets a Summer Facelift
The mini-park on Main street Edgartown is undergoing a surprise mid-August renovation courtesy of Donaroma’s Nursery and Landscaping Services and Edgartown Books.
West Tisbury Town Column: August 14
Well the weekend weather was delightful bright and sunny with beaches the top priority on Saturday but cool with a hint of rain on Sunday. It seems that everyone is entertaining house guests. Illumination night on Wednesday, the Fair begins on Thursday and the Oak Bluffs firework are next Friday as the summer is winding…
East Chop Column: August 14
The house was packed on August 9 when East Chop celebrated the life of Jean Kay. Jay Kay welcomed the guests on behalf of his two sisters, Kathy Kay and Carole Croteau. Rob Hammett read a poem by Elizabeth Frye about a person requesting mourners not to stand at her grave and cry because she…
Chilmark Town Column: August 14
Chilmark knows how to throw a party. The large crowd that attended the Meet the Fleet festivities last Thursday will agree. There was music, visits, tours, food and T-shirts. What more could we want? One highlight of the day was the presence in our harbor of the fishing boat Roann, now property of Mystic Seaport…
Museum Honors Island Leaders
The Martha’s Vineyard Museum honored writer Cynthia Riggs, Beagary Charitable Trust head Pat Morgan and the late West Tisbury town moderator Pat Gregory this week with the 2015 Martha’s Vineyard medal.
Former Principal Steps in to Lead High School
Margaret (Peg) Regan, the former longtime principal at Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, takes over as interim principal on Monday, following news last week that Gilbert Traverso had resigned the top post.
Gay Head Light Shines Again
Under a steady downpour on Tuesday, the Gay Head Light resumed its watch over Vineyard Sound and the waters off Aquinnah. A large crowd gathered in Aquinnah Circle, peering up from under their umbrellas and hoods to witness the end of the lighthouse’s longest period of darkness since 1856.
Downed Tree Limb Blocks Circuit Avenue Traffic
Traffic on Circuit avenue in Oak Bluffs came to a halt Tuesday evening when a large tree limb fell across the busy street. There appeared to be little damage to vehicles, and no power outages were reported.
Staying True to the Power of Heartfelt Storytelling
A crowd of Vineyarders and visitors gathered last Friday at the Tabernacle in Oak Bluffs to hear true stories told live, ranging from a jury duty experience to a visit to a war-torn village, as part of The Moth, presented by WCAI.
Still No Clear Path for Beach Road Improvement Plan
The devil is in the details, the Tisbury planning board heard last week, as an improvement project for Beach Road in Vineyard Haven continues to be the subject of intense discussion. Talks continue this Wednesday in the town hall annex at 6 p.m.
Obama Vacation Begins In Low-Key Fashion
Golf, dinner out with his wife, more golf. President Obama’s Vineyard vacation has been low key and mostly below the radar as he and his family begin a two-week-plus visit to the Vineyard. The Obamas arrived Friday night, a day earlier than planned.
Camp Jabberwocky Goes Back to the Future Like Never Before
Last Saturday evening Camp Jabberwocky performed Back to the Future, a theatrical reinterpretation of the 1985 movie.
Built on Stilts and Built to Last; Dance Fever Hits Union Chapel Again
Beginning this Thursday, Union Chapel in Oak Bluffs will be filled with the sounds of dancing feet, rhythmic drumming and thunderous applause as the Island gathers once again for the annual Built on Stilts dance festival.
Squibnocket Pond
603 acres, Aquinnah and Chilmark1,229-acre watershed spans both towns
President Obama Hits the Golf Course During First Full Day of Vacation
President Obama started off the first full day of his Vineyard vacation engaged in a favorite pastime: hitting the links at Farm Neck Golf Club with friends, including actor Larry David.
The Ferguson Report Reveals Hard Truths of Nationwide Abuses
Nearly a year to the day of Michael Brown’s killing in Ferguson, Mo., the New Press organized a panel discussion at the Katharine Cornell Theatre in honor of the publication of The Ferguson Report.
Remembering the Innocents at Hiroshima
Peace activists gathered at the Gay Head Lighthouse at sunrise on Thursday in remembrance of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki 70 years ago. Some were first timers at the vigil, but for others it’s an annual tradition.
Victory is Sweet and Comes with a Lobster at Chilmark Road Race
Runners from across the Island and elsewhere gathered for this year’s annual Chilmark Road Race under a clear blue sky Saturday, celebrating a tradition entering its 37th year on Martha’s Vineyard.
Putting Faces to the Boats at First Menemsha Meet the Fleet
Visitors streamed into Menemsha on Thursday evening for a rare look inside the Island’s commercial fishing industry. The first event drew a young, vibrant crowd to the harbor, where most of the Island’s commercial fleet was docked and fishermen offered demonstrations in their trade.
President Obama, Family Arrive on Vineyard for Vacation
President Barack Obama and his family stepped off Marine One at 6:26 p.m. Friday at the Martha’s Vineyard Airport to begin a 16-day summer vacation on the Island.
Lily Arrives
Allison Mitchell and Jesse Gibbon of West Tisbury announce the birth of a daughter, Lily Miriam Gibbon, born August 6.
Dean’s List at University of New England
Collette Jordan and Tyler Vunk of Edgartown were named to the spring 2015 dean’s list at the University of New England.
Faculty Honors for John Wallace
John C. Wallace of Edgartown was awarded spring 2015 faculty honors at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn.
John Slayton Receives Scholarship
John Thomas Slayton of Edgartown, a recent graduate of the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, has been awarded a $2,000 Charles J. Lewin Scholarship by the Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts.
Hilary Wall Receives Master’s Degree
Hilary Lyle Wall of West Tisbury has received a master of science degree at Simmons College in Boston.
Larisa Cacique Graduates
Larissa Camilo Cacique of Vineyard Haven has received a business administration degree from the School of Management at Simmons College.
Zoe Listro Named to Dean’s List
Zoe Listro of Vineyard Haven was named to the spring 2015 dean’s list at Quinnipiac University.
U Mass Lowell Graduates
Two Vineyard residents have graduated from the University of Massachusetts Lowell.
April Hargy Graduates
April Hargy of Edgartown, the daughter of Molly and Christopher Hargy, has graduated from Hartwock College in Oneonta, N.Y.
Emma Getsinger Graduates
Emma Getsinger has graduated with a degree in history from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine.
Announcing Thomas
Gerqueias Pereira and Gedeone Oliveira of Edgartown announce the birth of a son, Thomas Rodrigues Bragança de Oliveira, born August 1.
