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
April 27, 2018
Tisbury Elects New Selectman, Decides Contested Finance Committee Race
While the school vote dominated the annual town election Tuesday, Tisbury voters also elected in a new selectman and decided a contested race for the finance and advisory committee.
Awakenings
March has its moniker, coming in like a lamb and out like a lion or vice versa depending on the vagaries of Mother Nature. Poor April has been saddled with being “the cruelest month.”
Always Prepared: Island Chiefs Discuss Community Policing
Community policing on Martha’s Vineyard requires a special set of skills, four chiefs and the sheriff said during a Gazette discussion this week.
Land Bank Revenues: April 20
The Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank reported revenues of $185,016.66 for the business week ending on Friday, April 20, 2018.
Please Adopt Us
Our new arrival is Trooper and he’s a year old brown golden doodle.
Selectmen Permanently Close Vulnerable Stretch of East Chop Drive
Oak Bluffs selectmen voted to permanently close East Chop Drive to vehicles; bicycles and pedestrians will still be allowed.
Community Services Opens Clinic to Help Treat Drug Addiction
Martha’s Vineyard Community Services will open a new clinic on May 22 to dispense a drug that has helped many people escape the grip of addiction to heroin and other opioids.
West Tisbury Town Column: April 27
Well Tuesday is the first of May when baskets may be hung on your door and May pole celebrations and dances announce the arrival of warmer weather.
Vineyard Haven Town Column: April 27
Uh-oh. The vote in town on Tuesday had 21 more votes against building a new school. I am sure we have not heard the end of this.
On Chappy: April 27
Good news! TTOR superintendent Chris Kennedy reports that the beach route between Chappy and Edgartown is open. Bad news! Voracious raccoon at large on Chappy showing great initiative.
Edgartown Town Column: April 27
I don’t think anyone can complain about this past weekend and the beginning of the week. Best of all the sun was shining and there was no fog.
Real Estate Transactions: April 16 to April 22
Cove Road Inn LLC purchased 90 Manaquayak Road in West Tisbury from Hicklin-Jones Holding Company LLC for $5,500,000 on April 19.
Cultural Council Awards
The Martha’s Vineyard Cultural Council will host a reception in honor of its 2018 grant award recipients on Tuesday, May 1.
Tennis Kudos
Grant Pertile of Edgartown and his Bryant University tennis teammates won their fifth straight Northeast Conference Title on April 22.
Ride the Vineyard
Bike MS: Ride the Vineyard will take place on Saturday, May 5, beginning at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School.
Full Moon and Jupiter
Monday night’s full moon, the Daffodil Moon, appears between the zodiacal constellations Libra and Virgo.
Aquinnah Town Column: April 27
Spring is in the air in Aquinnah at long last and skunk cabbage is in the air as well.
Chilmark Town Column: April 27
May Day — brightly colored ribbons twirling around the May Pole in the hands of the fourth and fifth grade Chilmark School students is a long standing tradition that will take place in front of the Chilmark School at 9 a.m. on May 1.
Baiting the Hook
Anciently, the hand liners salted menhaden, cutting the fillets from the bone, washing and salting them as carefully as if they were going to eat ‘em themselves.
Youth Food Activists
Island Grown Schools is launching a new volunteer summer service program for rising ninth graders.
Gazette Wins Top Award for Online History Innovation
The Time Machine, the Gazette’s online showcase of Vineyard history, was honored with the Digital Innovation Award from the New England Society of News Editors.
PeaceQuilts Benefit
PeaceQuilts is hosting a celebrity waiter’s fundraising dinner on Saturday, April 28, beginning at 6 p.m.
Right Whales Spotted South of Vineyard
Three North Atlantic right whales were seen south of Martha’s Vineyard this week; mariners are advised to use caution.
Little League Parade and Opening Day
It begins with T-ball, a group of kids barely taller than a bat, their hats covering not just their heads but often most of their faces.
Small Is Beautiful, Especially for Copepods
These crustaceans, usually only one or two millimeters or less, play a giant role in the well being of the sea.
Mariachi Femenino
Did you know that most mariachi groups are comprised of men?
Avian Transients Drop By During Race to Breeding Grounds
Birds are racing to their breeding grounds. Most do not come our way since we are in the Atlantic Ocean.
Chilmark Approves Spending at Quiet Town Election
At a quiet town election Wednesday, Chilmark easily passed all spending articles on a ballot that featured no contested races.
Lost and Not Found
My editor at the Gazette is kind enough to pick up my column every Wednesday morning.
Menemsha Fish House Eyes New Location
Owners hope to open a retail and wholesale location in the airport business park sometime this summer.
Lambert’s Cove Inn Sells to Boston Businessman
The Lambert’s Cove Inn sold for $5.5 million. It will remain an inn and restaurant, the new owner said.
Josh Aronie Joins Offshore Ale
Josh Aronie will take over as the new head chef and kitchen manager of Offshore Ale next month.
State Offshore Wind Contracts Delayed
The award of offshore wind contracts with state utility companies has been delayed until May 23.
Firefighters Contain Blaze at Tiah’s Cove Home
West Tisbury firefighters knocked down a smoky house fire at 50 Bradley Martin Road in the Tiah’s Cove section of town Tuesday evening.
Chilmark Motorcycle Crash Claims a Life
A 39-year-old Chilmark man was killed when his motorcycle hit a utility pole off North Road early Tuesday evening. Lynn Murphy Jr. was pronounced dead at the scene.
Tisbury School Project In Limbo After Voters Reject Spending Question
Turning out in large numbers at their annual town election Tuesday, Tisbury voters narrowly rejected the $46.6 million new school project.
Welcome, Mattheus
Eudilene and Marcos Barros of Oak Bluffs announce the birth of a son, Mattheus Menegazzo Barros, born April 23 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital.
Announcing Nyah
Elizabeth and McKeon Clark-Derrick of Vineyard Haven announce the birth of a daughter, Nyah Blake Clark-Derrick, born April 19 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital.
An Ox Carries the Day for Agricultural Fair Poster
Barbara Ronchetti, owner of Island Alpaca, created this year’s winning poster for the 157th annual Agricultural Fair. The fair takes place August 16 to 19.
With New School on Ballot, Tisbury Heads to the Polls
Tisbury voters head to the polls today to make a final decision on a $46.6 million new school project. Polls are open from noon to 8 p.m. at the public safety building on Spring street. Heavy turnout is expected.
Chilmark Speeds Through Annual Town Meeting
Chilmark voters zipped through their annual town meeting Monday night, approving a $10 million annual budget and spending for school repairs.
No Man Is an Island; Not Even a Chappy Man
I’ll be returning to Chappy shortly to reopen the Royal and Ancient — Chappy’s premiere golf course.
Vineyard Governor Fails in Call for Outside Consultant
Islanders gave earful to Steamship Authority governors and senior managers Monday at the first meeting on the Vineyard since last month’s calamitous run of ferry breakdowns and cancellations.
West Tisbury Poet Laureate Debuts With Quiet Grace
The new poet laureate for West Tisbury, Spencer Thurlow, joined other Island poets on Sunday, including three former town laureates, at a reading held at the library.
Edgartown School Honor Roll
The Edgartown school has announced its third quarter honor roll for the 2017-2018 school year.
Jaxon Arrives
Felicia Williams-Hart and Bill Hart of Vineyard Haven announce the birth of a son, Jaxon Richard Hart, born April 18 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital.
Sheriff Severs Financial Tie With County Over Communications Center
The Dukes County sheriff has terminated a longstanding agreement with the county for an exchange of services that included partial funding of the Island’s 911 emergency communications center.
Edgartown Firefighters Contain Guest House Blaze
Edgartown firefighters quickly put out a fire in a guest house off Clevelandtown Road Sunday afternoon.
Volunteers Scour Island Beaches for Earth Day Cleanup
Volunteers of all ages turned out for a cheerful spring cleaning of Island beaches Saturday morning as part of the 26th annual Earth Day beach cleanup.
Domestic Violence Awareness Walk Has Added Emphasis
More than 60 Islanders turned out for the annual sexual assault awareness walk in Oak Bluffs Saturday morning.
Towns Commit to Good Government
In a whirlwind trip to Martha’s Vineyard Thursday, Lieut. Gov. Karyn Polito signed community compacts with four Island towns.
Filmmaker Traces Plight of Refugees
With his political comedy about the Syrian refugee crisis, Ben Tumin highlights the revolutionary nature of irreverence.
